Memo from Kenneth A. Shaw to Annette Flower and Jane Sheets, 1972

TOWSON STATE COLLEGE MEMORANDUM DATE December 4, 1972 TO: Annette Flower and Jane Sheets, Co-chairpersons, Faculty Association ~9 Committee on the Status of Women FROM: Kenneth A. Shaw 11 SUBJECT: November 27th Memo. This is in response to your memorandum of November 27. First let me say that Linda Frederick has had problems in collecting the data you requested. The problem, however, was not due to a lack of cooperation on anyone's part. You have noted data processing problems, so I need not dwell on them. Let me instead try to explain the difficulty in collecting data from different sources and organizing it in a systematic way. Each of the areas from which Linda had to seek information uses its data with different objectives in mind. The Personnel Office is committed to certain policies and procedures mandated by the State and this is reflected in their records. Internally, however, we have attempted to exercise as much flexibility as possible when we felt that it was in the best interest of the College. This means that the comparison of data on the same faculty member may indicate numerous inconsistencies and yet be accurate in terms of the purposes it is intended to serve. Of course, this explanation does not answer all of your concerns. There is little use denying that we are not doing a good job in data collection, but everyone is aware of that. We are working very hard under trying circumstances. Each time we attempt to respond to legitimate requests for information we overburden the system that much more. Still I would personally prefer waiting for accurate information rather than getting inaccurate data on time or worse, not getting any information at all. You perhaps more than anyone know that the nature of your request calls for the generation of data that has not previously been kept. False starts are inevitable. However, I see no justification whatsoever for your conclusion that I or members of my staff are dragging our feet so as to prevent you from getting the requested information. To do so would simply not be in our best interest. The first step of any Affirmative Action Program is the development of accurate data so that a variety of comparisons can be made. Inasmuch as we are committed to Affirmative Action I, like you, am most anxious to find out where inequities may exist. You can be assured that I will continue to cooperate to the fullest possible extent. KAS:pw