Faculty Council on Multicultural Affairs (FCMA)

Faculty Council on Multicultural Affairs: November 16, 2009

The FCMA returned this year after one year of non-action (2008-2009 school year). This year is pivotal in providing a solid agenda, definition, and overall goals for the committee.
At start of the meeting the acting chair (Yang) suggested three upcoming issues that could be areas of focus. These were:
1. Defining “multicultural” faculty (American citizens? International?)
2. Addressing concerns of those multicultural faculty “stuck” at the associate professor level or difficultly reaching tenure
3. Addressing concerns of maintaining and improving numbers of multicultural staff in the midst of a financial crisis/massive budget constraints

The first half of the agenda was set on determining the scope of the FCMA. Currently the UW Senate defined “Multicultural” in this committee as extending to those “people of color”. However, there was much debate on this term and further, where international faculty fit into that definition. Further discussion compared and contrasting the role of the term “multicultural” during the dawn of the 50s/60s and current connotations. This debate echos with student groups like the now "OMA/D".

While there are many facets that this committee has the power to address, there was also concern of limiting the FCMA’s goals to “bite size” portions. After the year of inaction that followed an agenda of attacking national issues of faculty diversity, it was suggested that the committee’s focus start small. The committee also addressed how to make the Seattle/UW community more racially “competitive” when compared to other top American research institutions. An idea of an exchange program was proposed for not only faculty, but students as well.
A motion was passed to add a committee addendum to the current definition, as provided by the Senate, to work on working on issues of racial disparity on the UW campus overall.

The voting members of the FCMA also set out to elect a chairman of the council. Upon further discussion, it was decided that two co-chairs would be a better fit for this committee. Yang and Flores were elected.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the role of FCMA was also closely looked at. This committee maintains a vessel to forward concerns to those higher powers (President, executive members). It was addressed how this year’s current financial status makes it especially important to have the concerns of the committee heard and addressed. It was proposed that we look for ways to display the concerns and importance of a multicultural faculty from the voice of a wide audience (Deans, Professors, Students….). Upon the creation of a formal agenda, we will explore this issue in more detail. I look forward to finding and sharing ASUW's voice in this discussion!