UT Libraries Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes: Diversity Roundtable

April 19, 2012

1:00 PM

Hodges Library Mary Greer Room

In attendance:

Brad Binder (Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology), Adam Hardebeck ( Center for

Electric Power), Sekeenia Haynes ( Biochemistry,Cellular & Molecular Biology), Claudia Rawn ( Materials Science & Engineering), Harry Richards ( Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology), Suzette Styles ( Center for Electric Power), Teresa Berry (UT Libraries), Donna Braquet (UT Libraries), Lana Dixon (UT Libraries), Peter Fernandez (UT Libraries), Jeanine Williamson (UT Libraries), Thura Mack (UT Libraries), Allison Roberts (UT Libraries), Michelle Brannen (UT Libraries), Rabia Gibs (UT Libraries), Earnest Brothers (Graduate School), Demetrius Richmond (College of Education, Health & Human Services Administration Advising)

STEM Focus Group Roundtable Discussion:

Roundtable Group is seeking Outcomes for collaborations with emphasis on Recruitment and retention.

Our focus is on utilizing and identifying needs in STEM enrichment of underrepresented students – Undergraduates, Graduates, Faculty.

Library Instruction Possibilities – Bibliographic management instruction -
Materials Camp Instruction, Scientific Communication workshops
Describe the process of information literacy – More than Google -
Point of interest – introduce the Services to potential students and scholars -
Program planning – need to know what programs we offer – Many don’t know what they need for instruction – training program extension – orientation collaboration –

Observations and Discussions
Workshops need to be early in the semester – learn how before you start – workshop for STEM – Tennessee Learning Center – package information for these events- REU – professional development – seminar – share the information – exposure to library resources –

Library offers: Graduate Student Open House, Dissertation workshop

Add Value to attending the workshops will bring people in – Library as a HUB -
Existing brochures could include into packets have resources for each Science (as per good advice from Rita)/ librarian info
Seminars – Site visits – UT is wired but not connected – REU programs -
Summer research experience inundated – go back to their inst. and go back viable marketing tool – foster relationships with incoming individuals.

Librarians could see offering workshops at available time – or invited to the groups -
willing to create a menu of available information and tailor for needs and time

Librarians can target needs.
Marketing the library Resources/Services is a natural accommodation easy – brand PR, market to the level of the person your speaking with. See the development – we have a need and seek money for support –

Context adds value to the instructions – work on a projects – go to the people that need and deliver the information.

Librarians are assigned to subject areas – why are there gaps in coverage of services -
awareness factor is low – marketing – time – Connect the librarians with the department or need

Outcomes

Who should the target audience be?

Librarians should build from the best customer – and make a model for other programs -
Music Library is embedding the library in black board – catered to course – course guides -
Put the librarian out to the area in need.

What makes the students pay attention? – professor endorses the resource or workshop – professor adds value – engineering fundamentals course – biology fundamentals – incoming graduate students – college of nursing does orientation with Lana –

Students are not trained on how to get information – students are depended on faculty -
Freshman English orientation does not prepare science research – limited time to learn

Focus Areas

Recruiting – research internship – all students come on a particular day – develop a curriculum -
REU-peer review -web of science – plagiarism and dishonesty

Incorporate the library UT experience process – required to go to the library – research paper – study at the library – Training – exposure to everything they need to be successful -
the earlier they are exposed the most impact – acclimated – learn about the resources -
collaborate – you don’t have to come to learn – accessible off campus – modify our approach -
library has made resources seamless – Have to hit student three times for library instruction to stick -
example Georgetown – long video – no student could register without seeing the video and taking a test.

Best for All – greater good -

Library moving into scholarly communication piece – sustainability in career success – represent UT well – expanding scholarly communication –

Recruitment – getting people to come to UT – need to know what their needs – evaluation plan – see if library programs are working – impact – assessment – make a MODEL – project impact- content for – Outcome – Librarians will need to id needs –

Thank you for getting us all together….

UT Libraries Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes: Diversity Roundtable
March 15, 2012
1:00 PM
Hodges Library 605
In attendance:
Michelle Brannen (UT Libraries), Earnest Brothers (Graduate School),
Travis Griffin (Diversity Programs), RJ Hinde (College of Arts & Sciences), Anne Hulse (Center for International Education) Matt Jordan (UT Libraries), Thura Mack (UT Libraries), Demetrius Richmond (Recruitment and Retention), Allison Roberts (UT Libraries), Marva Rudolph (Office of Equity & Diversity)

Roundtable Discussion:

Campus Diversity initiatives

Dr. Brother’s “UT is wired, but not connected”

Improve communication and collaboration within colleges and departments.

How can our group help to improve communication within colleges and departments?

Group focus on Recruitment and Retention:

How do we keep students in Knoxville? Intro to Knoxville (Library Course?)
Knowing the community helps retain and recruits future faculty to stay in Knoxville.

Outlay opportunities for engagement:
The Chancellor is focusing on STEM – how does that help the community- teachers.

How can our group support the campus STEM movement?

What can we do at UT to keep graduates here?
Community involvement – employers – Career services – More open houses – Job fairs focused on STEM opportunities – Oak Ridge

Celebrate small successes – Communications – Sell UT/Knoxville as a total package –
Joint Recruitment – future faculty – weekend visits
Money matters – Graduate student competitive funding –

Resources and solution

Recruitment collaborations – Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education (CIRE)
Resources for each department/college are limited. Collaboration of resources and sharing opportunity maximizes impact.
Library packets focused on STEM – lure future students and faculty with what our resources can offer – how they support your research – online resources – online help.
One stop shop – packets and people available with all the available resources and information at retention avenues (STEM) – conferences – Campus meet and greet STEM departments and librarians.
Professional Development – Graduate orientation – social engagement.

Life of the Mind programming – Bringing it home – collaboration with Ready for the World -sense of place -create packets with local information – place model

Next Meeting April 19: Bring STEM library resources and invite Donna and Jeanine.

UT Libraries Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes: Diversity Roundtable
January 19, 2012
1:00 PM
Hodges Library 605
In attendance:
Michelle Brannen (UT Libraries), Trisha Brady (UT Libraries), Earnest Brothers
(Graduate School), Travis Griffin (Diversity Programs), RJ Hinde (College of Arts
& Sciences), Annazette Houston (UT Disability Services), Anne Hulse (Center for International Education) Matt Jordan (UT Libraries), Thura Mack (UT Libraries), Katrice Morgan (School of Law), Demetrius Richmond (Recruitment and Retention), Laurie Roberson (School of Architecture), Allison Roberts (UT Libraries), Marva Rudolph (Office of Equity & Diversity) Allison Sharp (UT Libraries), Elizabeth Young (UT Libraries)

Updates and announcements
Kynita’s last meeting is today.
Trish will leave in 2 weeks

Roundtable Discussion:
Diversity Definition brought to us by Dr. Earnest Brothers
“Diversity in higher education is a systematic blending of academic programs, recruitment, retention, policies, and curriculum that provide college students with an enriched multicultural environment for learning”
Erwin, K. S. (2001). Multiculturalism, diversity, and African-American college students: receptive, yet skeptical? Journal of Black Studies, 31(6), 764-776.

We had a lively discussion of campus diversity initiatives but did not get to resources and solutions.
• I wish that we had gotten to the point where we discussed ways to collaborate.
• Can we take some of the issues discussed and use those for collaboration?
• The issues discussed were university wide. Suggested that we send the agenda again since we didn’t finish the agenda. Trust was established quickly and we learned about what each department is doing.
• Were there other who wanted to attend and couldn’t? Vern Granger.

They really embraced the committee and the round table group.

• Discussion about Intro to Knoxville course- some students feel lonely and isolate when they first get to campus.

• Interesting that we are having dialog with groups of diverse academics. Each has unique agendas. Try to establish regular meeting times. (for the roundtable group)

Resolved: Start where we left off. Recap 1st part then start with Resources and solutions. Send a follow up to all invitees not just those who could attend this gathering. Suggested same Thursday meeting in 150 – have greeters and signs. Doodle poll for next roundtable gathering and let the group decide how often to meet.

Upcoming events for Diversity
Culture Corner – Global Beauty
Spring international Festival April 20th – display and books
Black issues conference Feb 19th – Music Resources – use clickers to survey students – ask students about diversity issue-. Assessment- Digital Sign