Academic Staff Assembly (ASA)
Minutes
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, 10 November 2003
272 Bascom Hall (3:30-4:20pm)
Provost Peter Spear called the meeting to order at 3:37 pm.
AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS
The minutes of the 10/13/2003 Academic Staff Assembly meeting were approved.
Committee Reports
Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC) - Bruce Beck, chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/asec.html
During the last month, Larry Casper resigned from ASEC due to demands
of his job. There will be an election in the Assembly to replace him.
Visitors to ASEC included Karen Al-Ashkar, chair of the Academic Staff Appeals Committee. She reported that a number of cases are now before the committee and with more in the pipeline they are staying very busy. Bernice Durand and Louise Root-Robbins came to talk to ASEC about their Sloan Foundation project that will study work-life and career-progression issues of instructional academic staff and junior faculty. They will be speaking about their project at the December Assembly meeting.
ASEC continues to review language in those chapters of ASPP that deal with job security, layoff and nonrenewals. ASEC also is working on a proposal to eliminate the use of instructor category codes in the Timetable.
Bruce noted that academic staff member Catherine Middlecamp was recently named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Cathy, director of the Chemistry Learning Center, was honored for her leadership in chemistry and higher education, work on national science learning projects, and role in developing culturally inclusive curricular materials.
Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee (CEBC) - Bill Steffenhagen
reporting
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/cebc/index2.htm
Members of the committee had a table at the campus fringe benefits fair
where they provided information to academic staff. To gather information
on a process for a pay equity study, they will meet with School of Business
staff who conducted a similar study for faculty. The CEBC will also take
a look at benefits of classified staff to see if comparable sick leave
benefits can be granted to academic staff.
The Campus Transportation Committee's policy subcommittee plans to pilot an alternative to the mirror hang tag. It may include plastic sleeves that can be mounted in multiple vehicles and a moveable permit.
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
Units have received lists of academic staff with 5+ years of continuous
service. These staff members are entitled to a review with an explanation
if additional job security is not to be granted. Ann will draft a statement
to send to the reps for distribution to let all staff know about this
exercise.
Professional Development and Recognition Committee (PDRC) - Read Gilgen,
co-chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/pdrc/index.html
There were 45 submissions for professional development grants. Those receiving
grants will be notified soon. The call for Excellence Awards, for both
campus and Regents, will be mailed by December 1 to all faculty and staff.
Deadlines are January 30 and March 5, depending on the award.
GUEST: Academic Staff Endowment Fund - Char Tortorice
The public phase of the campus capital campaign began this fall. The silent
phase began three years ago and has raised $800 million of the $1.5 billion
goal. You have received mailings about contributing to this cause, and
the Academic Staff Endowment Fund committee urges you to support our fund.
You can make a general contribution or indicate your donation to one of
three specific endeavors: scholarships for child care, professional development
or a bench for the Muir Knoll natural area. The payroll deduction method
is easiest. You can go to the UW Foundation web site to make a donation
or get a form from the Secretary's office. We hope to have enough donations
to pay for the bench in the spring.
GUEST: Division of Information Technology Committee on Academic Staff
Issues - Renee Schuh reporting
The DoIT CASI had a brown bag to talk to staff about how merit and job
security decisions are made. The CASI is also talking about best practices
for performance reviews. Last year staff at DoIT were divided into two
districts. Al Krug is the rep for #452 and Diane S. Books is the rep for
#451.
University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) - Robin Kurtz
As the ASEC appointee to the UAPC, Robin described the functions and current
activities of this shared governance committee. The main purpose of the
committee is to advise provost and chancellor on curricular decisions
and academic programs. They have to approve creation of new centers, new
majors, and name changes for various programs. They approved the dissolution
of the University Industrial Relations organization replaced by the Office
of Corporate Relations. They also agreed to let CALS eliminate the Land
Tenure Center, but let LTC staff have an additional six months to find
a new home and resources to keep running.
New Business
Resolution opposing new concealed weapons legislation
The motion to oppose proposed concealed weapons legislation was put on
the floor by ASEC. No second required.
Bruce Beck started the discussion by saying that SB 214 would prohibit
concealed weapons from university buildings, but not from the grounds.
Allowing weapons on the campus grounds poses dangers to students and others
when anger can impair judgment. Also, anticipation of concealed weapons
can lead to an escalation of violence. By this resolution, ASEC supports
most law enforcement groups in opposing the legislation now before the
governor.
No amendments were suggested, and after brief but impassioned discussion
on both sides of the issue, the resolution passed by a wide margin.
Old Business
None
Provost Report: Peter Spear
The provost mentioned the pay plan recommendation from the Regents that asked for 4% increases in each year of the biennium to keep up with market pressures and peer institutions. However, with funds not available at that level in the compensation reserves, the legislature is granting 0% and 1% pay raises across the board. There is still enough funding in the reserves for normal raises and promotions. Salary equity and retention adjustments will be made as needed.
Health care insurance for part-time staff with 50-74% appointments will continue to be covered under same plans and rates as for full time staff. There will be a co-pay per month beginning January 1, 2004. The first payment would normally come out of November pay checks, but we are waiting until the classified staff union contracts are settled to determine the exact amounts for single and family coverage.
The governor's veto of the health insurance benefit loss for part-time staff has budget consequences. The cost to cover this benefit will go back to state agencies. The UW System will have to absorb an additional $7.5 million. UW-Madison will have to pick up $2.5 million in losses. This is a one-time cut that we hope will not become permanent. This $2.5 million will be covered centrally through reallocation and not passed down to the units.
A task force chaired by Millard Susman reported results of a year-long study on delivery of undergraduate biology education, the largest set of majors on campus. These majors are granted by CALS, L&S, Education, Human Ecology, Engineering, Nursing, and others. The task force recommended an umbrella structure with a director that will oversee all the biology majors in the schools where they reside. This new approach will be reviewed in three years to see if it has been beneficial. The full plan will be disclosed in an upcoming issue of Wisconsin Week.
Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen McCabe
Secretary of the Academic Staff