October 30/31, 2001
Minutes of
ASEC/MASA Town Hall Meetings
10/30/01 in Clinical Sciences Center
10/31/01 in Grainger Hall
Moderator of 10/30/01 meeting:
Bill Steffenhagen, President-Elect of MASA
Moderator of 10/31/01 meeting:
Jane Bannerman, President of MASA
Notes of both meetings: Heather Daniels
Panel:
Linda Newman, Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC)
Steve Lund, Academic Personnel Office (APO)
Esther Olson, Academic Staff Public Representation Organization (ASPRO)
Linda Newman presentation (ASEC)
This year's theme for ASEC is "increased participation in governance."
The room that the Academic Staff Assembly meets in will be open at 3:00
prior to Assembly meetings to encourage academic staff to meet each other.
The Assembly meets the 2nd Monday of each month. Provost Peter Spear will
be giving the Assembly regular updates. ASEC is also holding brown bag
lunches at noon in Union South the Friday before Assembly meetings.
The campus Strategic Plan should be printed in November and ASEC may draft a response to the plan.
There is an Academic Staff Institute being planned for spring of 2002. Members of CASIs, the Assembly, ASEC, and the Standing Committees will be invited to participate.
Most CASIs are up and running. One CASI per month is giving a brief update at the Assembly meeting.
All campuses have been asked to report to System how effectively research and instructional staff are being integrated into institutional life. Provost Peter Spear will be preparing this report.
The Madison campus decided to leave the use of professorial titles up to individual schools and colleges. The Medical School, Education and L&S CASIs are looking at the possible use of these titles.
A program for emergency salary support is in place. Linda is not aware of any applications for this funding. Information regarding this program is available on the Academic Staff website under Academic Staff documents.
Esther Olson presentation (ASPRO)
Alumni and ASPRO members responded to the call to encourage a joint uniform
pay plan for faculty and academic staff. The governor's office received
between 500-600 e-mails.
New issues that ASPRO is working on include improving the communications process with academic staff so that routes are in place system-wide the next time an important message needs to be distributed to the academic staff. Another issue is where to draw the line with using University resources for political purposes. In addition, ASPRO will be visiting other campuses to encourage membership.
Charlie Hoslet has a "lobbying" group that meets once per month to discuss state lobbying issues.
The System Fringe Benefits Committee has endorsed the domestic benefits plan.
Linda Newman mentioned that guidelines for campaigning and other political activities would be distributed soon. This is especially timely because of the upcoming election for governor in 2002.
Bill Steffenhagen mentioned that ASPRO was formed in the late 1980's and is the lobbyist organization for academic staff system-wide. MASA will be holding a program for academic staff to meet the ASPRO lobbyists, Janet Swandby and Todd Pierce, on Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 11:45-1 at Union South.
Question: Is there any news about the hiring freeze?
Steve Lund replied that the parameters of such a freeze were not yet determined. He has not seen any official notification of a freeze. In the past, the UW has given back some money to the state and then UW determines how to save the money. This would affect GPR-funded positions only.
Steve Lund presentation (Academic Personnel Office)
Climate continues to be an important issue. Climate refers two things.
One is making women and minorities feel welcome on campus and the other
is general civility and respect in the workplace. Anyone with suggestions
about how to achieve this is encouraged to e-mail Chancellor John Wiley.
You may also e-mail him with problems or good examples that you see.
Question: Is there a formal committee looking at climate?
No one knew whether there was one or not. Provost Peter Spear should be asked about this.
A diversity oversight committee that is part of Plan 2008 was mentioned. This committee meets twice a semester.
Question: Is there a climate component in the new employee orientation?
The answer was no.
Steve Pearson and Kathleen Holt from Employee Assistance were mentioned as good resources. Steve will be giving a MASA brown bag presentation on civility in March. EDRC also offers workshops on a respectful workplace.
Other suggestions given by audience members about campus climate include increased dialogue about climate between faculty, academic staff, classified and students; accountability for improvement of climate; or a formalized day to recognize importance of climate.
Concerns were also voiced about how to reach employees who have a problem.
Colleen McCabe pointed out that ASEC invites new deans to meet with ASEC. This Thursday, Nov. 1, Katharyn May, the Dean for the School of Nursing, will be ASEC's guest.
Linda Newman also pointed out that ASEC interviews all final candidates for dean positions. Feel free to pass on questions or advice to ASEC that can be used during the interview process.
Domestic partner benefits were discussed in great detail. A bill will be introduced in a few weeks to open state health insurance enrollment to domestic partners. The campus policy on domestic benefits will be unveiled soon. Domestic partner benefits are affecting recruitment and retention at Madison. Information on the handouts is available on the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee website, http://cebc.engr.wisc.edu/.
Jane Bannerman reminded the group that domestic partners include opposite-sex partners as well as same-sex partners.
There have been several resignations on campus because of the lack of health insurance for domestic partners. Most other Universities in the Big Ten have some sort of health insurance coverage for domestic partners.
Esther Olson pointed out that UW System Fringe Benefits Advisory Committee and Board of Regents have endorsed the domestic partners plan. Domestic partner benefits are also one of this year's priorities for the Public Representation Organization of the Faculty Senate (PROFs).
Audience Question: What is the latest on professorial titles for academic staff?
The Madison campus decided to leave the use of these titles up to individual schools and colleges. The Medical School, Education and L&S CASIs are looking at the possible use of these titles. The Faculty Senate may also weigh in. They are meeting Monday, Nov. 5 and will vote on a resolution to require their approval for the use of any title with the word "Professor".
The report on job security for academic staff will be available soon. There are three ways to give job security by either giving rolling horizon, multiple year or indefinite appointments. Overall job security for academic staff seems to be getting better.
It was mentioned that Don Schutt's office does conduct a two-part workshop
on performance reviews.