Academic Staff Assembly
Academic Staff Assembly Unapproved Minutes
September 5, 2007

2007-2008 Assembly

1. Approval of Minutes:

The meeting was brought to order by Chair Michael Cohen at 12:06 p.m. Minutes of the May 2, 2007 meetings were reviewed, correction of Giuliana Miolo’s name was made. Approval of May 2, 2007 minutes were approved unanimously on Ehlen/Duex motion.

2. Academic Staff Committees and Liaisons

Duex handed out the list of approved committee members for the 2007-08 academic year. The Titling/Titling Appeals committees were not finalized due to a question as to whether or not the committees should continue. Discussion ensued over appointment of 2007-08 committee liaisons. New appointments/reappointments as follows were approved unanimously by an Ehlen/Margulies motion.

The Academic Staff Assembly wishes to thank Sandi Scott-Duex for all her hard work on the committee membership database.

1. Academic Staff Awards Committee/Miolo (newly appointed)
2. Academic Staff Economic Issues Committee/Cohen - no report.
3. Academic Staff Elections & Balloting/Bowen - no report.
4. Academic Staff Government/Mohan (newly appointed)
5. Academic Staff Organization/Vacant - Election in two weeks.
6. Academic Staff Professional Development/Ehlen -

Academic Staff Development Grant funding is provided by System/state funds and matched by the campus. Ongoing budget negotiations have delayed announcement of the call for proposals. The "Request for Proposals" (RFP) will be released soon. Ehlen asked the Assembly to consider use of the title "Academic Staff Development Grant (ASDG)" rather than Academic Staff Professional Development Grant" in all marketing and program promotion to avoid confusion with the campus' Professional Development Program. Duex/Bowen motion to change the name for this purpose (only) approved unanimously. Ehlen (on behalf of the Academic Staff Professional Development Committee) asked that the Committee consider including the following language in the Academic Staff Development Grant RFP:

Preference may be given to applications that include match funds (i.e. commitment of PDP, Department/Unit, or College/Division funds to support the activity).

The inclusion of this optional selection criteria will encourage applicants to seek supplemental funding from the Department/Unit or College/Division as well as provide the Committee with an additional selection tool when crafting funding recommendations. Clokey/Mohan motion to modify theRFP was approved unanimously.

Youngquist motioned for continued support of salary stipend for academic staff for 2007-08 as allowed by funding. Farmer made the 2nd. Motion passed unanimously.

1. Academic Staff Instructional Promotions/Farmer - no report.
2. Academic Staff Review/Cohen - no requests.
3. Academic Staff Title Appeals/Margulies - no requests.
4. Academic Staff Titling Committee/Youngquist - no new requests.
5. Academic Staff Rewards and Recognition Committee/Flanagan - no reports.

3. UW Whitewater Background Check Policy

Handouts were provided to Assembly of latest drafts of UW Whitewater Background Check Policy and discussion ensued regarding recommendation of changes. Faculty Senate will be bringing this issue up at the September 11, 2007 meeting.

Motion brought by Margulies to ask for a deletion of language from the Background Check Policy. Farmer made the 2nd. Motion passed unanimously. Cohen will communicate our concerns to the Chancellor. Specifically, the language we would delete is:

Disclosing all convictions and/or pending criminal charges for any felony or misdemeanor. Applicants who fail to timely complete and return the form will not be considered further for employment. An applicant’s failure to accurately and completely disclose his or her criminal conviction history may be grounds for removal from further consideration for a position. Also, the deletion of numbers 1 and 2 on the Job Application Supplement.

Motion to adjourn meeting of Academic Staff Assembly by Farmer/Flanagan unanimously approved at 1:15p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Sarah Thayer, Program Associate/Secretary