Resolution on Creating a Gender and Sexuality Stakeholder’s Exploratory Work Group

Resolved that the Senate establish a joint campus-wide Gender and Sexuality Stakeholder’s Exploratory Work Group with the support of the President and Cabinet to be charged with proposing sustainable solutions to on-going issues related to gender, sexual orientation, sexual violence and diversity in terms of programming, staffing, space allocation and funding and be it;

Resolved that the work group to be appointed by the Senate in consultation with the President and Cabinet at the beginning of the Spring 2011 semester to develop a sustainable funding plan that addresses the issues identified in this resolution and be it;

Resolved that the work group be composed of:

one (1) administrator from Academic Affairs appointed by the Provost, the Director of Diversity and Inclusive Excellence or her designee, one (1) administrator or staff member from SAEM appointed by the Interim Vice President for SAEM, one (1) administrator from Financial Services and one (1) representative from the Student Union appointed by the Vice President for Administration and Finance, one (1) representative each from the Student Affairs Committee, the Senate Diversity Subcommittee, and the President's Diversity Council (chosen by the respective committees), two (2) faculty representatives and one (1) Student Services Professional (appointed by Structure & Functions), and the President of the Associated Students (ASI) or her designee, and one (1) student representative appointed by the Associated Students (ASI) .

The committee will be co-chaired by one administrator or staff member on the work group selected by the President and one faculty member on the work group selected by the Chair of the Senate.

Resolved that the work group review the current best practices 1 and identify, at a minimum, dedicated and secure on-going funding, staffing and space for:

services and programming that address issues of gender and sexual orientation and their intersection with issues of race and economic status;

a student advocate position;

a safe space for student meetings involving sensitive issues which are not possible in the current space allocated to the Multicultural Center; and

a sustainable plan for diversity program support including, but not limited to, support for the Multicultural Center (including a full-time permanent Student Affairs Professional position to direct it) and for the Director of Diversity and Inclusive Excellence; and be it;

Resolved that its initial report and recommendations to the Senate be completed before start of the Spring 2012 semester (and a final report completed prior to the end of the Spring 2012 semester) including a sustainable plan for the future and be it;

Resolved that the recommendations be referred to the President and Cabinet to be implemented by no later than the 2013-14 academic year.

1 The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) has developed widely accepted standards for Student Affairs programs at institutions of higher education. They currently include Multicultural Student Programs and Services; Women Student Programs; and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Programs and they are currently developing a set for Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence.

 

Approved by the Senate
02/24/2011