Academic Staff Assembly (ASA)
Minutes
MINUTES Approved 5-12-03
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, 14 April 2003
272 Bascom Hall (3:30-4:20pm)
A. Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell called the meeting to order at 3:35
pm.
B. AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS
The minutes of the 3/10/2003 Academic Staff Assembly meeting were approved.
C. Vice Chancellor Report
Darrell Bazzell talked primarily about the current and projected budget
situations. For the governor's budget repair bill affecting the rest of
this fiscal year, UW-Madison's share is about $3 million. The legislature
initially required this entire amount be taken from administration support
costs. For our campus as well as System, this would be very difficult
to manage, so a request was made and granted to spread the costs somewhat
wider. The legislature gave some funding back to the Veterinary Diagnostic
Lab and further reduced Madison's share by $167,000, but gave these cuts
back to System to absorb.
Budget hearings and listening sessions on the governor's 03-05 budget proposals have been held around the state by the Joint Finance Committee and the Regents. The JFC puts together its version of the budget by late May to keep it on a fast track to final legislative approval in late June or July.
The governor is depending on several one-time transfers to balance his budget, not knowing whether or not those funds will really come in. The UW is right now on the verge of not being able to provide the access and quality we are known for, so any further cuts for us will compromise our mission.
Academic staff are urged to contact their legislators or members of the JFC to stress how important it is to keep the institution adequately funded.
D. Committee Reports
ASEC, Linda Newman, chair
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/acstaff/asec.html
All of us were saddened last week by the sudden death of Pat Moran, a student advisor in the School of Education and a member of the Professional Development and Recognition Committee and the Academic Staff Endowment Fund Committee. She was also a member of the School of Ed Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI).
Two Town Meetings were held in March. There were two primary outcomes that ASEC will follow up with:
1. Find a research lab that is a good example of good management by a
PI and use it as a tool for training others.
2. Explore ways to commend units/departments/individuals who show exceptional
sensitivity toward academic staff.
Special events going on in April/May include:
April 16 - Academic Staff Issues Forum in Memorial Union with members of the Academic Personnel Office
April 21 - PDRC Brown Bag on civility and climate issues with provost Peter Spear at Memorial Union
April 24 - Academic Staff Institute at the Pyle Center from 8:00am-2:00pm. Former chancellor David Ward is the featured speaker. Main topic is staff/faculty collaborations. Register with WISCAPE.
April 24 - Excellence Award reception at Olin House - by invitation only.
May 1 and 2 - Listening Sessions on campus climate will be held various times at Gordon Commons with the provost and his staff attending. Registration is possible through the provost's web site.
Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee (PPPC) - Ann Wallace, chair
The ASPP changes that went to System last fall were passed on to the Regents
as part of the material for their March meeting. The effective date of
those changes is February 28, 2003. The changes will remain in effect
unless the Regents veto them within 90 days. One Regent has voiced concern
that some of changes may have a negative effect on academic staff. Ann
and Esther Olson will meet with him to reassure him that the Assembly
has approved these changes as being beneficial to academic staff.
Additional changes are coming, but Ann wanted to reiterate that indefinite appointments offer more job security than rolling horizon appointments, contrary to some rumors she has heard recently. Anyone with an indefinite appointment may not be nonrenewed, but can be laid off with the longest notice periods.
Professional Development and Recognition Committee (PDRC) - Read Gilgen,
chair
Members of the PDRC were very sorry to hear of the death of Pat Moran.
She will be greatly missed on the committee.
The committee finished evaluating the PD grants submitted in this last round. There were many fewer applications than in the past, so likely all will be funded. The committee wondered if perhaps the low number of applicants indicated a lack of available matching funds in the units. In the fall, PDRC members will meet with various CASIs to describe the professional development opportunities available to see if more interest can be generated.
Executive Education program applications are due to the secretary's office by April 25.
Special Reports
School of Education Committee on Academic Staff Issues - Brenda Spychalla,
vice-chair
Brenda explained the composition of the SoE CASI and described some of
its activities and accomplishments over the past year. The complete annual
report is available on the web at www.education.wisc.edu/AcademicStaff/.
Also available on this web site is a tip sheet for performance reviews,
and the school's policy on professional development funding.
Some of the topics that continue to be discussed are issues for part-time staff, maintenance of the academic staff listserv, and a five-year review of the CASI with a survey of members.
Campus Natural Areas (CNA) Committee projects: Jan Hornback and Cathie
Bruner
Jan described some of spring activities sponsored by the committee and
Friends of the CNA. This week, there will be a field trip to the Indian
mounds at Picnic Point and a tour of the Class of 1918 marsh. The annual
Friends meeting will be held Tuesday at the McKay Center in the Arboretum.
They will take up issues of dogs and bikes on trails, and standards for
commemorative icons.
The Academic Staff Endowment Committee has inquired about using donations for a commemorative bench to be place in Muir Woods and/or the marsh. A wooden bench with a back would cost $2,000 and a flat stone bench costs $1,000, plus a plaque and upkeep. The endowment committee members will leave it up to the CNA committee to decide which is more appropriate for the location.
Cathie talked about the Muir Woods project that is being planned in conjunction with a grad student here and some students at Lincoln elementary school. They would be pleased to work a bench into their plans next spring.
There is also an opportunity for groups to "adopt" an area of campus to keep clean of debris. If the Assembly or other governance groups or individuals are interested, they should contact Cathie at her office with Facilities Planning and Management.
Academic Staff Endowment Committee - Barry Robinson
Barry reported that we are close to having enough money to order a bench
for the Muir Woods project. We hope to be able to purchase it by next
spring. Endowment committee members have helped the project along by giving
money to the fund in memory of Pat Moran. Other Assembly members are welcome
to do the same. You can send a check directly to the UW Foundation indicating
Campus Natural Areas.
E. BUSINESS
New Business
None
Old Business
None
Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen McCabe
Secretary of the Academic Staff