For immediate release - July 6, 2005

(DALLAS) - The Dallas County Community College District has signed a contract with Mason Tillman Associates Ltd. to conduct a disparity study that will help DCCCD determine whether minority and women-owned businesses in the Dallas area have equal access to the system’s construction, architectural and engineering contracts.

Two community meetings sponsored by Dallas County Community Colleges will inform area businesses about the disparity study: Tuesday, July 19, at 6 p.m. in room W171 at Mountain View College, located at 4849 W. Illinois Ave. in Dallas; and Wednesday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in room S115 at Richland College, 2800 Abrams Road, also in Dallas. Participants will hear an overview of the disparity study process. Businesses can share information about their contracting experiences with the system, and DCCC construction managers will discuss upcoming contracting opportunities. Businesses that wish to attend are asked to RSVP by telephone at (972) 692-8564 or by e-mail at businessmeeting@mtaltd.com. 

“We encourage representatives from all area businesses to attend either or both of these meetings to learn more about access and contracts with Dallas County Community Colleges,” said Bob Brown, DCCC vice chancellor for business affairs. “We want input from the business community, especially minority and women-owned businesses, as we begin work on this study with Mason Tillman.”

A disparity study determines whether public contracts have been awarded equitably to ready, willing and able minority and women-owned contractors. In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co. that affirmative action public contracting programs could be enacted if clear and specific patterns of discrimination exist. The court defined discrimination as a “statistically significant under-utilization of willing and able minority contractors.” DCCC’s disparity study will establish whether any significant under-utilization of willing and able minority contractors has occurred.

Based in Oakland, Calif., Mason Tillman Associates is a nationally recognized authority on disparity studies and public policy research; the organization has conducted 76 disparity studies since 1990 for various states, counties, cities and special districts. Dr. Eleanor Ramsey, Mason Tillman’s president, has extensive experience working with members of the Dallas community; she will return to Dallas to assist DCCC with its efforts to ensure equity in contracting.

For more information, contact Brown at (972) 860-7752 or Sherry Tupper, consultant with Mason Tillman Associates, at (214) 946-4545.

Press contact: Ann Hatch, 214-860-2478