Page 8 - 2021-2022 Year End Report

AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
Search & Screen Committee (S&S) & Murdock
The following members participated in the S&S during its work from January to December 2021 under Elizabeth Bell’s leadership: Kris Anderson, Julie Branford, Diana Gordon, Nancy Haigwood, Anne Jarvis, Kate Joseph, Anne Murphy, and Lara Ogg. Lee Ann Verboort provided valuable input and support throughout the committee’s work. In preparation for the active search for an Executive Director (ED), the committee completed a Position Description, established the candidate recruitment process, developed a salary and benefits package, and outlined the candidate screening and interview process. An active search began in early September 2021 after notification from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust that the Chapter would receive a three-year $248,000 capacity grant to support hiring the ED. After several rounds of interviews and Board approval of the committee's recommended candidate, the ED position was offered to Lori Slaughter who accepted the role which she started in mid-January 2022. We are grateful to each of the members who contributed generously to this important effort. Special thanks to Kate Joseph who spent countless hours before and after Lori was hired to develop and implement the benefits package offered to both Lori and Lee Ann, and to set up a payroll system for our first employees. Thanks also go to the team of Elizabeth Bell, Rachel Dresbeck, Diana Gordon, Anne Jarvis, Caron Ogg, and Susan Smith who contributed to the successful M. J. Murdock Charitable Foundation grant result.
Inclusive Excellence Initiative
Committee Members: Meleah Ashford (Chair), Elizabeth Bell, Rachel Dresbeck, Diana Gordon, and Anne Jarvis.
Committee Action: The Inclusive Excellence Committee is charged with upholding our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement with actions to advance DEI within our organization and our
partner institutions. Our DEI statement, below, has been uploaded to the ARCS Oregon website on the ABOUT page under Who We Are.
ARCS Foundation Oregon embraces inclusive excellence as a core value critical to science and innovation. We believe that science is the solution to many of the world’s most pressing problems, and diverse perspectives are critical to achieving those solutions. We commit to ensuring that inclusive excellence is honored and upheld within our membership and in our relationships with our partner institutions.

A survey of our Oregon members was conducted over the summer that revealed that 86% of respondents (37) strongly agreed when asked if they support our DEI statement. Moving forward, each committee was asked to begin developing and implementing DEI actions that were appropriate for their committee. Examples of actions included University Relations Committee adding a question to the university site visit form to describe how they support DEI amongst their students, and the Governance Committee removed obviously exclusive language from our bylaws, such as “Chairman.”
DEI efforts have been ongoing at the ARCS National level with many Oregon members participating in this process. This effort includes developing DEI values and committee-by- committee recommended actions to be considered on a chapter-by-chapter basis.
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