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October 17 , 2005
PCORE starts off new academic year

By Katherine Baust Lukens

The President’s Commission on Race and Ethnicity (PCORE) held its first meeting of the academic year on Monday, Sept. 26, in 400 Administration.

Chair Donna Wong, associate director of multicultural programs and services, introduced President Jim Wagner, who gave a brief overview of PCORE’s responsibilities to its members, followed by a Q&A session.

“To inform and alert; to initiate things that are sustainable; to not take for granted that the administration is aware of all issues related to race and diversity,” said Wagner, ticking off the commission’s charges. “And to remember that I am a middle-aged, straight, white male—but that we are on the same team.”

Wagner said PCORE should examine another dimension of diversity this year. “We have been good at acknowledging and celebrating diversity,” Wagner said. “There is a difference between a non-negative and a positive environment. I think Emory could begin thinking about the sort of things that make us vital, in regards to diversity. I suggest to you, instead of naming a committee ‘Staff Concerns,’ you could call it ‘Staff Concerns and Opportunities.’ Let’s not just stop at concerns.”

Each committee then gave a brief summary of its goals for 2005–06:
• Faculty concerns will host a series of luncheons to function as “listening sessions” to hear faculty members’ unmet needs and draft a report of the findings for PCORE and the president.
• Historical records/bylaws will archive all documents and explore creating a part-time position for record keeping.
• Staff concerns will look at hiring procedures and staff development; the Campus Climate Survey revealed that many staff members feel underpaid and/or that their supervisors are not supportive of professional development opportunities.
• Student concerns will work on fall “dialogues” event between students and Provost Earl Lewis, and will evaluate admissions outreach and recruitment of Latinos and look at possibilities for making admissions materials available in Spanish.
• Professional development fund will propose changes to its travel grant-awarding guidelines (to help minority faculty and staff attend professional conferences) in light of the Climate Survey, which revealed that many staff feel they do not have professional development opportunities.
*will work on brown bag panels, student concerns race dialogues, the Transforming Community Project and the President’s Commissions-Employee Council holiday party.
• Race & ethnic leadership will continue work on creating a database of potential nominees of color for University positions.

The next order of business was to formally elect Alex Escobar, senior lecturer in biology, as chair-elect.
Training and development courses presented by the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs were
announced. For a list of course offerings, or to register online, go to: https://emory.hr.emory.edu/onlinereg.nsf/home?openform. For more information, contact LaSheree Mayfield at 404-727-7607.

Del King, senior director of Human Resources, announced that Mentor Emory is being revived, with plans to expand the program. There will be an information session on Friday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. in the Jones Room of Woodruff Library. To register, visit www.emory.edu/mentor_emory. For more information, contact Stephanie Coleman at stephanie.coleman@emory.edu.

PCORE will meet next on Monday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. in 400 Administration. The guest speaker will be John Ford, senior vice president for Campus Life.

If you have a question or concern for PCORE, e-mail Chair Donna Wong at dmwong@emory.edu.

 

 

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