Academic Staff Assembly

Academic Staff Assembly Approved Minutes

September 20, 2006

2006-2007 Assembly

 

Present:  Mike Cohen (Chair), Nancy Farmer, Michael Flanagan, Gail Fox, Paula Mohan, Eric Roche, Wayne Youngquist

 

 Absent:   Amy Margulies (Excused), Sandi Scott-Duex (Vice) (Excused), Deb Bowen (Excused), Denise Ehlen (Excused)

 

1.                   Approval of Minutes:  The meeting was brought to order by Chair Michael Cohen at 12:12 p.m.  Minor corrections were made to unapproved minutes of September 6, 2006, and then approved unanimously on a Youngquist/Fox motion.

 

2.                   Committee appointments will be moved to a future meeting.  Cohen reported that Susan Kidd will continue to serve on the Titling Committee until replaced.

 

3.                   Changes to Wis. Admin. Code Chs. UWS 7 & 11  Regarding the August 2, 2006 hearing, we have not heard of any changes.  Madison has somewhat incorporated into the language our suggestions which we made known on May 4th to Chancellor Saunders.  Items of issue were

 

a.                   The language which refers to “reassignment in lieu of suspension without pay …” and whether we are in agreement with the wording as it stands now, especially if it pertains to “indefinite staff” or tenured faculty, otherwise a contract could come due for renewal, thus determining the issues.

b.                   The issue of accepting reassignment with full pay or opting to take suspension without pay if employee prefers.

 

We will look for the Final Proposal of Wis. Admin. Code Chs. 7 & 11 and will post a link to our website.

 

4.                   Growth Agenda for Wisconsin. Handouts were provided including a letter from Kevin P Reilly and a UW News & Events release http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2006/r060817a.htm  Details about the initiatives are available at:  http://www.uwsa.edu/bor/agenda/2006/august.pdf.

 

            We will invite Chancellor Saunders to a future ASA meeting to discuss the Growth Agenda.  Of issue were the implications of the additional 50 future students being well-qualified and the university’s ability to retain these students, as well as the amounts which were requested by our school and others in the university system.

           

5.         Academic Staff Committee and Liaisons

 

            a.         Academic Staff Awards Committee

            b.         Academic Staff Economic Issues Committee/Cohen – No Report

            c.         Academic Staff Elections & Balloting/Bowen- Will open floor next meeting for two new members.

            d.         Academic Staff Government/Cohen – No Report

            e.         Academic Staff Organization/Duex – No report

            f.          Academic Staff Professional Development/Ehlen – No Report                              

g.         Academic Staff Instructional Promotions/Farmer- No report.  

            h.         Academic Staff Review/Cohen – No Report

            i.          Academic Staff Title Appeals/Duex – Will go over committees and name liaisons in two weeks.

            j.          Academic Staff Titling Committee—Susan Kidd

            k.         Academic Staff Rewards and Recognition Committee/ Flanagan - Nominations are due Friday, October 13, 2006 for the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Rewards & Recognition Program.  Nomination forms will be sent this week to all faculty and staff, and a mass e-mail will be sent as well.  This committee will meet after the October 13 deadline for nominations, and will come to the October 18, 2006 meeting of the Academic Staff Assembly with recommendations based on the nominations received.

 

6.         Vacancy: Position/Approval:  Cohen reported that George Clokey was contacted and agreed to serve on the Academic Staff Assembly to fill a vacant position.  On a Youngquist/Flanagan motion, George Clokey was unanimously approved to fill a two-year Instructional vacancy on this committee.  His term will go through the 2007-2008 term.

 

7.         Announcements:

       

Cohen invited someone to volunteer to represent the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Committee.  Gail Fox reported she would be interested in the position.  Cohen will appoint her to the position.

 

 8.  Future Agenda Items

 

a.                   Vacancy:  The other Instructional vacancy on this committee is for a term of one year.  Farmer nominated Jen White, and will contact her to find out if she is willing to serve.

      b.         Committee Appointments

      c..        Farmer requests discussion about Deans making the decisions on whether or not to retain academic staff  as regards the Chancellor’s support and how this affects security for employment..

      d.         Fox requests discussion on indefinite appointments.

 

Motion to close meeting was unanimous on a Youngquist/Fox motion.

Meeting was adjourned at 1:14 pm