Academic Staff Assembly (ASA) Minutes

9/13/99 ASA Minutes


ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY
Monday, September 13, 1999
272 Bascom Hall (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.)

1. ASEC Chair, Barry Robinson, called the meeting to order at 3:35. A quorum is present (50 members).
   
   

2. Introductions: Barry introduced the five new Assembly representatives and two new ASEC members. All ASEC members told a little about themselves.
   
   

3. Announcements and Activities Report (Barry Robinson)
   
   

   1. The Chancellor will be present at the October 11 Assembly meeting to give his perspective on the University, past and present.
      
      

   2. Future Assembly meetings will be in Room 272 Bascom, instead of 165 as previously announced due to a conflict with classroom scheduling.
      
      

   3. Colleen McCabe, new Secretary of the Academic Staff as of July 1, called attention to the two web sites shown on the chalkboard. One for academic staff information (www.wisc.edu/pubs/acstaff) and one for the complete NCA report (www.wisc.edu/newdirections/)
      
      

   4. ASEC Activities/Action since 5/99 (or, what we did last summer)
      
      

      1. ASEC recommended three academic staff members for appointment to dean's search and screen committees.
         
         

      2. We had an annual planning meeting at the Physical Sciences Lab hosted graciously by Esther Olson at which ASEC determined major initiatives for the coming year:
         
         

         1. Promote establishment of Committees on Academic Staff Issues (CASIs) at the school and college level.
            
            

         2. Support implementation of NCA Report recommendations. (North Central Association on accreditation of higher education institutions)
            
            

         3. Work on language for two new professorial titles for instructional and research academic staff.
            
            

         4. Form a pilot version of an Academic Staff Institute as a way to learn about governance issues and leadership roles.
            
            

         5. Look at diversity issues based on recommendations of campus committee.
            
            

         6. Act on recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Workplace Issues after they present their report to the Assembly in November.
            

         
         

      3. Eight academic staff members from UW-Madison attended the UW System Leadership Conference held this year in La Crosse. UW-Madison will host the conference on July 20-21, 2000. Miriam Simmons and Pat Fessenden are the co-chairs of the committee. Assembly members will soon receive a call for proposals and other information regarding this two-day event.
         
         

      4. ASEC approved some minor, technical corrections to the Academic Personnel Policies and Procedure (ASPP) document. Chapters 1-10 are being readied to submit to System and the Regents for final approval.
         
         

      5. ASEC suggested appropriate wording to John Torphy to be a part of the competitive compensation (Madison Initiative) instructions to the deans, so that academic staff were not overlooked in favor of faculty. (Torphy has told campus budget offices to go ahead with a 5.2% average pay package for their salary calculations, even though this could change with the passing of the new state budget.)
         
         

      6. A new Assembly Handbook will be ready for distribution to all representatives in October. (Thanks to Dan Ross for the Alphabet Soup Decoder ring, which defines the many acronyms of academic staff governance.)
         
         

AUTOMATIC CONSENT BUSINESS

The minutes of the May 10, 1999 Academic Staff Assembly meeting were approved without comment.

COMMITTEES AND REPORTS

1. Compensation & Economic Benefits Committee - Walt Hopkins, Chair (No Report)
   
   

2. Personnel Policies & Procedures Committee - Ann Wallace, Chair
   
   A Question and Answer exercise to help understand the ASPP document will be ready for distribution soon, both in hard copy and on the web. Ann explained the committee's role in drawing attention to the academic staff job security issue by sending notices to staff about their options once they have been on campus for seven years.
   
   

3. Nominating Committee - Karen Carlson, Chair
   
   Members of the Assembly wishing to be nominated (or to suggest a colleague) for a campus committee should contact a member of this committee. Elections are held in March for ASEC and standing committees.
   
   

4. Professional Development & Recognition Committee - Greg Iaccarino, Chair
   
   Greg said that the PDRC will be working with the campus Office of Human Resources Development to provide campus-wide professional development opportunities. The committee will also actively pursue getting more publicity and recognition for the accomplishments of academic staff beyond just the excellence award winners.
   
   Information has just been mailed regarding the next round of Professional Development Grants. On Oct. 11, Boris Frank will present a workshop specifically geared toward grant writing for this program. On Oct. 13, there will be another brown bag on retirement issues. See the PDRC web site for details.
   
   

5. Districting & Representation Committee - Mary Ray, Chair
   
   Mary reported that the committee is working diligently to keep up with staff changes that require redistricting. Their web site is helpful, and the Secretary's office can help provide information for an email distribution list for your constituents.
   
   

6. Legislative Update - Esther Olson
   
   The budget is stalled. There is pressure to get it signed by October 1, so school districts can complete their budget work. Much depends on whether Chvala and Jensen can reach a compromise.
   
   Esther is not optimistic about successful passage of all five of the pending retirement-related bills. Perhaps one of the bills may have a chance, either removing the 5% cap or opening the variable.
   
   UW System's Fringe Benefit Committee is meeting this week. Esther will report back in October.
   
   PROFS had gone on record with their concern about first day health care coverage. This is approved but tied to the budget . As long as the budget is not passed, first day coverage cannot be offered to new faculty and staff. PROFS is making a pitch to the Legislature to allow this coverage to start the day the budget is passed.
   
   

OTHER BUSINESS

OLD BUSINESS - None

NEW BUSINESS

1. Motion to Accept the ASPRO Slate
   
   A motion was made and seconded to accept the nomination of Bob Dye, Ernesto Monge, Maureen Bischof, Diane Chalgren, and Dan Ross to the ASPRO board. The motion carried.
   
   

OTHER

1. NCA Report
   
   The wording of the governance section was included in the packet. The wording is obviously favorable to a shared governance approach. ASEC met with Joe Wiesenfarth and his committee during their preparation of the NCA document. Barry expressed gratitude that the committee heard their concerns. ASEC will meet again with Wiesenfarth this fall to talk about next steps.
   
   

2. New Assembly Representative Orientation (Char Tortorice).
   
   Char emphasized that the way districting is done, each Assembly rep has constituents with similar titles. Thus as the representative you will probably have common concerns. Representatives should keep in touch with their district by forwarding agendas and minutes of ASEC and Assembly meetings. Char goes one step further and invites a dialogue with her constituents by emphasizing specific issues and giving some of her own interpretation.
   
   

3. Reception for New UW staff
   
   Barry encouraged all to attend the reception at the University Club on September 23 from 4:00-6:00 pm. This affair is sponsored jointly by Madison Academic Staff Association, Latino/Latina Academic Staff Association, and Student Personnel Association. There will be food, a cash bar, and music provided by our own Rick Daluge.
   
   Adjournment (and cookies) at 4:30p.m.
   Submitted by Colleen McCabe
   Secretary of the Academic Staff
   
   

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