The Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities (PCSM) met for round table discussions and the presentation of its annual report on Monday.

The PCSM Diversity and Inclusion Summit focused on the campus climate. The summit was held in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center.

PCSM Chair Felicia Bohanon led the summit and explained what it is.

“Today’s summit is a presentation of the report based on the work that we’ve done over the past year,” Bohanon said. “The major focus of the report is on students, so one of the things we wanted to do was really get a feel from students concerning the NIU campus and their take on diversity. And also to look at issues they’ve had on the NIU campus as well as in the DeKalb community related to diversity racial issues and those kinds of things.”

The commission also reviews policies in regard to diversity and determines their effectiveness and whether any revisions are necessary.

“We also looked at the admissions policies,” Bohanon said. “So what’s going on as it relates to bringing students to campus: How can we be more effective, how can we be more inclusive and are we really meeting the needs of students when they are coming to campus?”

Bohanon said the commission looked at committees on campus that are representative of ethnic minorities of committees, and how they affect diversity on campus.

Darren Mitchell, acting NIU police chief, was in attendance and won a Deacon Davis Award. Deacon Davis awards were given to individuals who support diversity and minorities on campus.

“I think it’s great, [and] I have nothing but positive things to say about the commission and the work they do,” Mitchell said. “The work they have done over the years has advanced an agenda that makes NIU more open and accepting to all kinds of people. I was fortunate enough to win a Deacon Davis Award one year, and I was very humbled and proud of the award and what it stands for… It’s a recognition of their efforts on behalf of minorities on the NIU campus.”

Maria Ahmad, adult and higher education graduate student, is a student representativs on the commission as well as its secretary.

“I think [the commission’s] important,” Ahmad said. “We did look into different committees and see if there was representation of different minorities and we took surveys. I think it’s important to get that information even if it wasn’t reaching out to all students and faculty. Just the fact that we try to do that is important; it shows our commitment to diversity and making sure all voices are heard.”

Ahmad said listening to concerns and ideas was the only way to achieve a diverse and inclusive campus and community.

“There’s all kinds of people on this campus, and we need to make sure we’re serving everybody the best we can, and we won’t know how to serve them unless we find out from them,” Ahmad said. “So if we want to be an inclusive community where all people and ideas are accepted we need to find out what those ideas are.”

Bohanon said the commission is appointed by the president and its objective is to recommend programs, activities and ways of communication to improve the campus climate for those individuals.

Mitchell said the commission is the oldest on campus.

The PCSM will meet for a Diversity Inclusion Retreat from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 25.

“We’re looking forward to the retreat we’re going to have,” Mitchell said. “I think one of the things we definitely want to have is more student involvement. We would definitely like to have those student voices represented because that’s what it’s all about.”