Academic Staff Assembly (ASA)
Minutes
10/11/99 ASA Minutes
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, October 11, 1999
272 Bascom Hall (3:30 - 4:15 p.m.)
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UW Provost John Wiley called the meeting to order at 3:35. A quorum is present (56 members).
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John Wiley introduced Chancellor David Ward who gave his review of the past and present year.
Key points:
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"Best budget of the decade and perhaps the last 20 years for the UW."
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Madison Initiative was successful due to the leverage of additional funds from WARF, UW Foundation, and private dollars.
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Hiring in the next decade will include "cluster" positions that will benefit more than one area.
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Competitive compensation over and above the proposed 5.2% pay plan will help address market factors and give deans and chairs more latitude for making good hires.
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Budget funds allocated for advising, libraries, and instructional technology.
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Favorable budget this biennium is linked to improved communication strategy. Two messages reached the Legislature:
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Improved undergraduate education (particularly better treatment of freshmen), and
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Partnerships with the state that served to enhance the economy.
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Ward thanked ASPRO, ASEC, and other academic staff members for being the most effective in applying pressure on the legislators during the critical period in the spring.
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He also spoke to the four significant findings of the NCA Accreditation team report:
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A shaky resource base makes us vulnerable to competition.
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Improvements, particularly in the undergraduate program, were recognized.
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The high level of regulation both inside and outside the university may inhibit efficiency.
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Need more appreciation and understanding of academic staff roles at the department levels.
Next step: Use the findings of the NCA report to update the UW mission and vision document in consultation with governance units.
Challenge: Defining strategy directions and committing ourselves to the second phase of the Madison Initiative.
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Announcements and Activities Report - Barry Robinson
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Barry introduced parliamentarian Elaine Staley, along with Julie Bailey and Danielle Lockwood from the Secretary's office, and new representatives in nine districts.
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ASEC Activities/Action since 9/13/99
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ASEC met with new Associate Vice Chancellor Linda Greene, Tim Kelley, editor of Wisconsin Week, and Hank Lufler of the Chancellor's Office.
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The "Call for Proposals" to the Academic Staff Leadership Conference in July was sent out system-wide.
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ASEC has been working on wording for a proposed professorial title series for instructional and research academic staff.
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A memo has been mailed to deans and directors to ask for information about their established Committees on Academic Staff Issues, or to encourage them to set one up.
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The Nominating Committee has forwarded to ASEC a short list of candidates for the Athletic Board.
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The Committee on Workplace Issues will present its report next month at the Assembly.
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AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS
The minutes of the September 13, 1999 Academic Staff Assembly meeting
were approved without comment.
COMMITTEES AND REPORTS
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Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee - Walt Hopkins, Chair (No report)
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Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee - Ann Wallace, Chair (No report)
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Nominating Committee - Karen Carlson, Chair (No report)
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Professional Development and Recognition Committee - Greg Iaccarino, Chair
Proposals for the Academic Staff Professional Development Grant Program (1/2000-6/2001) are due to department chairs and directors on October 29, 1999. Application forms are on the web at
www.wisc.edu/ohr/hrd/hrdgrants.html.
The Mentoring Committee will be incorporated as a subcommittee of PDRC.
On October 21, PDRC members will meet with MASA to discuss plans for the Academic Staff Endowment Fund. The September balance is approximately $12,400.
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Districting and Representation Committee - Mary Ray, Chair
Mary reported that the DRC will try to keep the email list of district members updated monthly. They are available upon request from the Secretary of the Academic Staff office (cmccabe@bascom.wisc.edu).
The members of the DRC will have an all-day Saturday retreat in November to attempt to balance the numbers in districts that are too large or small, according to the guidelines.
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Legislative Update - Esther Olson
Now that the budget bill is passed, the next item of concern to academic staff is the retirement issues bill.
It has contains a number of benefits to academic staff and others, such as increasing the multiplier, reinstating the variable option, removing the 5% earnings cap, and eliminating the dependent
requirement for beneficiaries. Before this bill goes to the governor, it will require an actuarial review and may hit other legal snags.
Bill #500, which would prohibit benefits to domestic partners, has some strong opposition in the Legislature. A strategic approach for supporting this bill will be decided soon by ASPRO and others.
OTHER BUSINESS
OLD BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Motion from the Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee That the Distinguished
Prefix Review Committee Policies and Procedures be amended in section
VIII, C, "Review Process," as follows:
"The dean's or director's office shall submit 13 copies of the complete
packet together with a cover letter to the Academic Personnel Office,
which will forward 12 copies to the members of the Distinguished Prefix
Review Committee (DPRC), and will also notify the candidate of the receipt
of the packet."
The motion carried.
Adjournment at 4:15 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen McCabe
Secretary of the Academic Staff