Academic Staff Assembly (ASA)
Minutes
MINUTES
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, 12 April 2004
272 Bascom Hall (3:30-4:30 pm)
Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm.
AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS
The minutes of the 3/8/2004 Academic Staff Assembly meeting were approved.
MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS
1. Memorial Resolution for Judith Murphy was read by Gordon Ridley.
2. Memorial Resolution for Dianne Bowcock was read by Jeanne Hendricks.
Committee Reports
Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC) - Bruce Beck, chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/asec.html
ASEC received word that Chancellor Wiley was on record as opposing the
state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and he sought
input from the governance groups. The Faculty Senate has also passed a
motion opposing the amendment. ASEC has been drafting a position that
will come to the Assembly in May for a vote. Representatives will have
a copy soon to distribute to their districts for comments.
Terms are up for representatives in even-numbered districts. Please let Colleen know this week if you do not wish to continue. If she doesn't hear from you, the assumption will be that you are willing to serve again.
The Regents parity pay plan will go through the state channels to the Joint Committee on Employment Relations with approval likely.
The University Committee of the Faculty Senate will ask the Academic Personnel Office to continue oversight of departments where academic staff hold both instructional and research appointments that are similar to legal faculty.
Intercollegiate Athletics has rescinded rolling horizons for ten academic members. ASEC will look into the reasoning behind this action.
ASEC met with School of Pharmacy dean Jeanette Roberts to learn how things are going in her new position. She is coping with a high level of turnover and the workings of a much larger environment than she was used to. She is willing to try to get a Committee on Academic Staff Issue started.
Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee (CEBC) - Bill Steffenhagen
reporting
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/cebc/index2.htm
The unclassified pay plan approved by the Regents and sent to the state
will amount to a 1.35% across-the-board raise with a $250 lump sum payment,
equivalent to what the state employee unions have bargained for and received
so far. The health care premium request is for $18/$45 for 2004 and $22/$55
in 2005. The Regents also put in language asking that domestic partners
receive group health insurance coverage using funds from the compensation
reserve. The Regents authorized the additional floating holiday for Veterans'
Day.
Districting and Representation Committee (DRC) - Anne Gunther, chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/comopp/drc.html
Nominating Committee - Laurie Mayberry, chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/comopp/nc.html
Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee (PPPC) - Ann Wallace, chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/pppc/index.htm
Professional Development and Recognition Committee (PDRC) - Daña
Alder, co-chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/pdrc/index.html
Continuing Studies Committee on Academic Staff Issues - David Werther
Dean Reggie Gauger accepted the CASI's offer to present an overview of
the divisional budget process and funding sources. The CASI also invited
Katie Duren and Elaine Klein to "unravel the mysteries" of credit
outreach, extended-day, and other funding mechanisms available for our
courses and programs in a presentation at Memorial Union on April 21.
In the fall, the CASI will sponsor a series of brown bag lunches to address
various pedagogical issues of returning adult students and non-traditional
teaching methods. Finally, the CASI would like to recognize the deans
for all their support.
Equity and Diversity Resource Advisory Committee - Lillian Tong
Lillian Tong began by asking the Assembly members what they think the
Equity and Diversity Resource Center does. Responses included: provide
sexual harassment counseling, written materials, Plan 2008 support, climate
issues, and recruitment tips.
Lillian then read this statement: "The mission is to promote, integrate, and transfer equity and diversity principles to advance and support the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Madison." The office sits under the legal arm of the campus, so the advisory committee helps the administration on policy issues related to affirmative action and compliance. It reviews procedures for handling complaints and harassments to make sure wording is clear. The advisory committee reviews the functions of the Equity and Diversity Committees at the division level.
The current advisory committee has divided itself into four groups based
on priorities:
1. Education - develop more user-friendly web page
2. Layoff - examine budget effects
3. Accessibility - include in campus planning
4. Equity and Diversity - help the committees at the division level
Lillian asked what the #4 group could do to help the units. Suggestions were: help with recruitment processes, retention issues, consciousness-raising about different cultures, orientation for new hires to connect them with a support system, and better training for supervisors.
PRESENTATION OF 2004 ACADEMIC STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS was done
by Daña Alder and Barry Robinson, co-chairs of the Professional
Development and Recognition Committee (PDRC).
New Business
1. Results of the ASEC Election
Frank Kooistra, Marcia Jezwinski, and Karen Schwarz were elected for three-year
terms. Read Gilgen and Janice Czyscon were elected for one-year terms.
2. Standing Committee slates
Laurie Mayberry presented the slates of the Nominating Committee and ASEC
for the standing committee elections. Slates were approved by the Assembly
with additions of Ann Wallace and Maureen Noonan Bischof to the Personnel
Policies and Procedures Committee and Donna Cole to the Professional Development
and Recognition Committee. Ballots will be mailed with the May Assembly
packets to be returned at the Assembly meeting on May 10.
Vice Chancellor Report: Darrell Bazzell
The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) is a proposed constitutional amendment
that would cap state spending by the rate of inflation. At the recent
Regents meeting, state representative Gregg Underheim presented a revised
amendment that would base the spending limits on personal income levels
rather than on the consumer price index. However, this does not really
make the bill more palatable for higher education. The legislature will
probably reconvene in May to consider the amendment. System and campus
leaders are watching this issue closely and will try to educate legislators
on the dire ramifications of this bill should it pass.
Another campus issue is that of the contracts for teaching assistants. TAs are considering a two-day walkout and withholding grades if their contract requests are not met. More than salaries, the TAs are concerned about health insurance costs, now and in the future.
Darrell and Chancellor Wiley do not condone any job action by the TAs, so are working hard to bring this issue to a reasonable solution as soon as possible.
Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen McCabe
Secretary of the Academic Staff