Academic Staff Assembly (ASA)
Minutes
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, November 8, 1999
272 Bascom Hall (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.)
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A. UW Provost John Wiley called the meeting to order at 3:35. A quorum is present (55 members).
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ANNOUNCEMENTS * Cathy Middlecamp
Cathy extended a message of thanks to those who have already given to the State, University and UW Hospital & Clinics Employees Combined Campaign of Dane County (SECC) campaign or plan to. Cathy will send an email message to all Assembly representatives that they can forward to their district members. She will include a number of stylized messages to choose from to encourage participation in this worthwhile cause. (John Wiley added that the University does well in number of dollars, but does not fare as well in percentage of contributors when compared to other state agencies.)
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ASEC ACTIVITIES - Barry Robinson
Activities/Actions since 10/11/99
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ASEC sent a memo to deans and directors encouraging them to start a Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) if they had not done so. These committees have been organized so far in L&S, CALS, School of Education, Engineering, Med School, and Continuing Studies. Other units should not be far behind. The Secretary's office is keeping a file on the membership in each committee.
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ASEC appointments:
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George Stephenson to the Humanities/Social Sciences Area Review Committee
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Consuela Lopez Springfield to the Committee on Academic Affairs of Minority/Disadvantaged Students.
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Peg Davey and Don Woolston as recommendations to the Chancellor to fill unexpired terms on the Athletic Board.
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New representative: Cindy Van Matre for Terry Gawlik in District 496.
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ASEC met with Joe Wiesenfarth and Elaine Klein regarding the NCA report and next steps. Joe will be working with the Chancellor on a draft of the new strategic plan for the university.
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Hank Lufler came to ASEC to talk about the newly published University Relations document and discussed plans to meet with people around the state through the "On the Road" program, campus tours, alumni events, etc.
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The Committee on Workplace Issues presented its report to ASEC.
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Karen Schwarz reported on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Athletic Board Relationships, otherwise known as the Fost Committee.
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AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS
The minutes of the October 11, 1999 Academic Staff Assembly meeting were approved without comment.
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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
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The committee has put the finishing touches on a Question and Answer brochure to go to all academic staff that will serve as a guide to the revised Academic Staff Policies and Procedures document. It will be released as soon as the changes to ASPP are officially approved.
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The committee is still collecting data on job security in schools and colleges.
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Chapter 12 of ASPP, Outside Activities, will be revised. It may also be renamed "Conflicts of Interest."
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Nominating Committee - Karen Carlson, Chair
Char Tortorice announced that the Nominating Committee is looking for candidates for the Academic Staff Executive Committee. Any Assembly representatives who are interested or have suggestions for nominees should contact the Secretary or Karen Carlson.
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Professional Development and Recognition Committee - Greg Iaccarino, Chair
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On Thursday, November 18, 1999 MASA and SPA Excellence Award winners will be honored at a reception at the Pyle Center.
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The publicity for the 2000 Excellence Award nomination process will be coming out this month in WisconsinWeek and other venues. Watch for it, and think of good people to nominate.
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Another topic that the PDRC will bring to a future Assembly meeting regards the Academic Staff Endowment Fund. We will be looking for ideas as to how to increase the contributions and how to use the fund.
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Districting and Representation Committee - Mary Ray, Chair
The DRC held its retreat and has come up with proposed solutions for all districts that have become either larger or smaller than the rules in ASPP allow. They will now prepare the proposals and be contacting representatives and others about changes that would affect them.
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Legislative Update - Esther Olson
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If you want to see the budget, the Chancellor's budget bill web site is www.wisc.edu/Chancellor/staterelations/
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The pension bill is pending. There should be enough in the $4 million funds allocated to cover the provisions. The governor is waiting to get the exact cost before signing it.
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The pay plan for all state workers has to go as one package to JOCER, so at least some of the union contracts have to be settled before the plan goes forward. The paperwork will probably not be done in time to get retroactive salary checks out this year.
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The Madison Initiative for competitive compensation is separate and is not a part of the pay plan.
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OTHER BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
The Ad Hoc Academic Staff Committee on Workplace Issues presented their October 1999 report "Connection Through Communication" and led a discussion on the findings. Discussion issues centered around the job security for those on soft money, lack of performance reviews, interest in an ombuds for academic staff, ways to communicate concerns without putting your job at risk, and concern that new employees have the appropriate information about their rights and responsibilities.
ASEC thanked the committee members for their fine job and will consider the recommendations of the report and suggestions from the Assembly for an eventual action plan. Barry stressed that he or the Secretary will be glad to respond to questions that Assembly reps or other academic staff might have at any time. If we can't answer the question, we will point you to the proper authority. Email brrobins@facstaff.wisc.edu or cmccabe@bascom.wisc.edu
Adjournment at 4:30 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen McCabe
Secretary of the Academic Staff
Last Revised 2/2000 © 2000 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
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