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January 25, 2019

WCC Meeting Notes:

In attendance: Mak Saito, Annette Govindarajan, Chrissy Hernandez, Dina Pandya, Chris Land, Christine Charette, Sarah Das, Dave Fisichella, Adam Subhas, Veta Green, Jake Gebbie, Sheri White; and Meg Green and Kerry Ducharme standing in for Kathi Benjamin (HR)

  1. Update on bathroom signage by HR. Suggestions from the WCC include: making sure large conference spaces (e.g., Clark 507) have accommodations; make sure wording reflects that people can use the bathroom of their choice; and putting out a WHOI Announcement of the policy.
  2. Update on Respectful Workplace Training compliance by HR. Compliance varies by department/work unit. Feedback has been mixed, with WCC hearing both positive and negative comments. Develop an anonymous survey to receive feedback.
  3. CommuniTea scheduling – plan on a diversity – themed Tea for March/April, and working with GLOW for a Tea in June.
  4. Consider hosting a summer seminar on Diversity. Robert Livingston from Harvard, who wrote the WH Diversity report) could be a good choice for speaker.
  5. Develop community resources for diversity including a resource page associated with the WCC website; and social media announcements (Chrissy will look into a Twitter feed).
  6. Diversity Committee update. Consider a traditional committee with co-chairs and representatives from staff and APO groups; committee members could lead “task forces” on initiatives that they develop and operate independently with guidance from the co-chairs and committee; student and postdoctoral members could be nominated by those groups; other members should be selected to ensure broad representation; the committee would coordinate and be complementary with other WHOI committees.
  7. Ombudsperson office – Mak and Annette spoke with MIT’s ombudsperson office to gather information about setting up a similar office at WHOI, and they will follow up with Chris Land and Kathi Benjamin.
  8. Other initiatives to purse in 2019 – develop timeline and roadmap for next climate survey; bystander training.In attendance: Mak Saito, Annette Govindarajan, Chrissy Hernandez, Dina Pandya, Chris Land, Christine Charette, Sarah Das, Dave Fisichella, Adam Subhas, Veta Green, Jake Gebbie, Sheri White; and Meg Green and Kerry Ducharme standing in for Kathi Benjamin (HR)
    1. Update on bathroom signage by HR. Suggestions from the WCC include: making sure large conference spaces (e.g., Clark 507) have accommodations; make sure wording reflects that people can use the bathroom of their choice; and putting out a WHOI Announcement of the policy.
    2. Update on Respectful Workplace Training compliance by HR. Compliance varies by department/work unit. Feedback has been mixed, with WCC hearing both positive and negative comments. Develop an anonymous survey to receive feedback.
    3. CommuniTea scheduling – plan on a diversity – themed Tea for March/April, and working with GLOW for a Tea in June.
    4. Consider hosting a summer seminar on Diversity. Robert Livingston from Harvard, who wrote the WH Diversity report) could be a good choice for speaker.
    5. Develop community resources for diversity including a resource page associated with the WCC website; and social media announcements (Chrissy will look into a Twitter feed).
    6. Diversity Committee update. Consider a traditional committee with co-chairs and representatives from staff and APO groups; committee members could lead “task forces” on initiatives that they develop and operate independently with guidance from the co-chairs and committee; student and postdoctoral members could be nominated by those groups; other members should be selected to ensure broad representation; the committee would coordinate and be complementary with other WHOI committees.
    7. Ombudsperson office – Mak and Annette spoke with MIT’s ombudsperson office to gather information about setting up a similar office at WHOI, and they will follow up with Chris Land and Kathi Benjamin.
    8. Other initiatives to purse in 2019 – develop timeline and roadmap for next climate survey; bystander training.