Academic Staff Assembly (ASA) Minutes
Approved 3-12-07
MINUTES
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, 12 February 2007
272 Bascom Hall (3:30-4:10 pm)
Provost Patrick Farrell called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm.
AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS
The minutes of the 12/11/2006 Academic Staff Assembly meeting were approved.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC) – Read Gilgen, chair
http://acstaff.wisc.edu/asec.html; https://lists.wisc.edu/read/?forum=assembly
Read reported that ASEC met with new CALS dean Molly Jahn to introduce themselves and to talk about academic staff issues in the college. Don Miner and Terri Gill came to ASEC to explain the new automated travel system for travel expense reporting. The Academic Staff Institute steering committee has been planning for the April 30th event at the Pyle Center. Registration will be $15. All interested academic staff are invited to participate. UW-Superior will host the summer Leadership Conference in July.
Professional Development and Recognition Committee – Kevin Niemi reporting
http://acstaff.wisc.edu/pdrc/index.html
PDRC members are in the process of reviewing the Excellence Award applications.
The spring round of PD grants is due to department chairs by March 9. A brown bag on writing a successful PD grant will be held Feb. 27 at Memorial Union. They will also hold a special session of this brown bag for the SMPH.
An announcement will be made later this spring about the Executive Education grants.
Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee – Mo Bischof and Carla Love, co-chairs
http://acstaff.wisc.edu/pppc/JSflyer07.pdf
Carla and Mo brought attention to the job security flyer that was mailed in January to all academic staff. It suggested that academic staff who have been in a job title for at least 5 years are entitled to a review. The information on those staff who qualify was sent directly to deans, directors, and department chairs by the Academic Personnel Office. Academic staff are encouraged to request a review if one is not offered, but there should not necessarily be an expectation of additional job security or promotion with any review.
PPPC and MASA will hold a joint brown bag called “Understanding your job security” at Union South on February 26 from 12-1.
Mo and Carla asked the provost to mention the review procedure at the next dean’s council.
BUSINESS
1. Standing Committee slates – Mary Ray, Nominating Committee chair
Slates were approved as presented with the addition of Mo Bischof to the PPPC slate.
2. Academic Staff Endowment Fund – Colleen McCabe, Secretary of the Academic Staff
Colleen explained the origin of the fund and some of its uses in support of academic staff projects. The interest-bearing part of the fund is at about $18,000 leaving disposable income of $4,000. Much of that is promised to the Lakeshore Preservation Committee for a bench that will commemorate all academic staff. Future uses of extra funds are designated for a child care and professional development scholarships. Academic staff are encouraged to donate to this fund through annual giving or payroll deduction.
3. Communications Study Committee resolution – Jo Ann Carr
The study committee presented a motion to approve a resolution that would create another standing committee of the Assembly to deal with internal and external communication issues relevant to academic staff. The PPPC will be directed to prepare the language for organization and election of members similar to that of other standing committees. A future election will determine the members. The motion was approved unanimously by the Assembly.
Provost Report: Pat Farrell
The Regents approved a System-wide admissions policy that would take a whole-student approach that could consider race. This is not a change in policy for UW-Madison. The governor will have domestic partner benefits in his budget that will include all state employees. The state statute may have to be revisited due to the passage of the recent marriage amendment. UW System and campus administrations will continue to voice support for passage of this budget provision.
Dean of student finalists have been on campus. A decision should be coming soon from the provost and chancellor.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen McCabe
Secretary of the Academic Staff