Sponsor: Ms. Ana Ortiz, National Science Foundation (NSF)

 President: Mr. Luther Santiful (Director, Department of the Army EEO Agency) opened the meeting at 10:07 A.M.

 Each member present at the meeting introduced himself or herself and identified their agency.

 Mr. Richard A. Toscano, Jr., Special Assistant for Interagency Affairs, presented an overview of the White House Initiatives on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. Mr. Toscano focused on the reporting process being used to document the services Federal agencies are providing to the Hispanic community. The purpose of gathering this information is to: 

• Close the information gap between the Hispanic community and Federal agencies on available services
• Encourage interaction and partnerships between Federal agencies and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs)
• Identify agency goals in funding grants and research programs
• Document the technical assistance being provided to HSIs in developing grant proposals
• Disseminate information on the benefits that can be derived from partnerships with Federal agencies
• Outline agency projected actions for the upcoming Fiscal Year

Efforts are being made to streamline the data-gathering process in view of similar reporting requirements in the future associated with the initiatives involving the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities and Asian American/Pacific Islander educational programs. Mr. Toscano explained that there is a legislative mandate supporting the initiative for Historically Black Colleges and Universities that is lacking for the other initiatives. He emphasized that we must work to institutionalize the remaining initiatives. He distributed copies of information sheets that have been developed on educational issues for Hispanics. Mr. Toscano concluded his presentation by saying that there is still a lot of work to be done to assist the Latino/Hispanic community.

Discussion followed on the reporting requirements, the varied data sources being used upon which to base goals, and other similar reporting requirements that agencies are required to complete. A recommendation was made that Mr. Toscano’s office consider partnering with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) while they are currently drafting their new guidance on Affirmative Employment Program Plans.

Mr. Santiful asked the Council members to familiarize themselves with the Occupational Study of the GS-200 Series being conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and their agency’s comments on the study that were due to OPM by May 5, 2000. He stressed that the Council is not in favor of the study and has recommended that the Equal Employment Opportunity/Civil Rights field have a "family series" of its own that may require adding a series for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Diversity. Several members provided information on actions/positions their agencies have taken regarding the study.

Updates were provided on the status of the National Performance Review (NPR) Diversity Task Force Benchmark Report and the NPR/EEOC Task Force Report. The Diversity Report on Federal Sector initiatives is being prepared, but there is no information currently available on the issuance of the report. The benchmark report for the Private Sector initiatives has been completed and is awaiting issuance at an appropriate event. The four teams working on the NPR/EEOC Task Force are in the "gathering data" stage (identifying Best Practices and conducting interviews). This process should be concluded by the end of June and a report issued in August/September. Agencies supporting the task force with personnel resources have been asked to maintain their commitment through July 2000.

Mr. Santiful opened a discussion on modified procedures being used by agencies in the area of complaint processing. Although Council members agreed that creative approaches to streamlining the process are welcome, it was emphasized that protecting the rights of aggrieved individuals and the credibility of the process is important. An overview of the Department of the Navy pilot program was presented.

The meeting ended with a variety of questions and dissemination of information regarding the following:

- Fair Credit Reporting Act (requires agreement by responsible management officials when contract investigators are used to process EEO complaints. At least one federal agency has halted the investigation of complaints by outside contractors until this issue is resolved. The EEOC Chairwoman recently testified at a Congressional hearing and suggested the exclusion of EEO investigations from the provisions of this Act).

- Rate of payment for attorney’s fees (referred to Laffey Matrix)

- Availability of on-line EEO-related training (members will share information on available resources)

- Distribution of membership lists internal to the Council

- Request for Council membership lists by consultants (Council policy does not support such activity, but members are free to provide their own information to these requests)

The June Council meeting will be hosted by the Office of Thrift Supervision and include a presentation by the National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives, if a presenter is available. Information and directions will be provided to all members prior to the meeting.

The July meeting will be held July 20 at the Department of Treasury and include an "IRS Presentation on 1203B" and a second IRS presentation on "Agency-wide EEO Shared Services."

There being no further business, Mr. Santiful adjourned the meeting at 11:55 A.M.

Recorder: Carmen Lopez, EEO Specialist, U.S. Army EEO Agency