Members of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) met with President Bill Chace at the group’s Feb. 14 meeting in 400 Administration.

Anne Kelley updated Chace on the tenure study conducted by the faculty concerns committee. She said the committee is finishing up its research, thanks to the addition of statistics from the School of Medicine, and the next step is to examine similar studies and statistics from other institutions, which she and Chace both said might be difficult to obtain.

Marsha Hendricks and Elaine Gossett of the staff concerns committee presented a plan for Mentor Emory, a women’s mentoring program for the staff to be co-sponsored by the PCSW and Human Resources. The program is based on a successful model in place at Georgia Tech, and an Emory pilot program is anticipated to begin later this month. Mentors and mentees are both needed, and information about the pilot program will be advertised across campus in HR publications and Emory Report.

Lynn Kenney reported on the activities of the staff committee’s alternative work arrangements subcommittee. She said plans for a "telecommuting" week at Emory have been put on hold, and the group is trying to examine ways to implement such an activity. A website about telecommuting and alternative work arrangements at the University is close to completion. Hopefully, this will aid in the promotion of alternative work arrangements universitywide, she said.

Katie Smith and Melanie Styers of the student concerns committee reviewed the group’s recent activities. Thanks to the help of PCSW member Lisa DeMik of Residence Life, Thomas Hall will be promoted as an all-female housing option for upperclassman for the 2002–03 school year. The group is promoting the hiring of a sexual assault coordinator—an item President Chace said is also one of great importance to the administration in Campus Life.

Finally, the two said work is being done to revive the Emory Women’s Alliance, a mentoring program for undergraduates and faculty, and the committee is organizing a lecture series on women’s health.

Chace then discussed the possibility of the University reducing some employee benefits, including health care or courtesy scholarships. He emphasized that no final decisions have been made and then opened up the discussion.

Members’ concerns focused largely on the courtesy scholarship, many noting they came to work at Emory because of this benefit. Suggestions about grandfaterhing existing benefits and flexible education spending funds were discussed, and Chace again said no final decisions have been made.

In other business, chair Deb Floyd announced plans for the group’s annual spring event to be held April 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the School of Law. Frances Smith Foster, Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Women's Studies, will be the featured guest speaker.

Amy Wheeler said PCSW will be accepting nominations for new members and asked for volunteers from all areas to help in the application review process.

The PCSW holds its meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in 400 Administration. Its next meeting will be March 7.

If you have a question or concern for PCSW, contact chair Deb Floyd at dfloyd@law.emory.edu.