UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE

UNIVERSITY SENATE MEETING

VOL.  41, NO. 1

 

September 14, 2004

 

 

Members Present:

 

Robin Baker, Judy Blackstone, Joey Bohl, Marcia Bollinger, Don Bredle, Charlene Burns, Jack Bushnell, Randy Dickerson, Michael Dorsher, Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Margaret Dwyer, Robert Erffmeyer, Jeff Erger, Gloria Fennell, Leslie Foster, Mitchell Freymiller, Alan Gallaher, Andrea Gapko, Betty Hanson, Susan Harrison, Ann Hoffman, Robert Hollon, Robert Hooper, Rose Jadack, Jennifer Johs-Artisensi, Harry Jol, Fred Kolb, Kate Lang, Jennifer Lee, Gene Leisz, Bruce Lo, David Lonzarich, Barbara Lozar, Steven Majstorovic, Karl Markgraf, Donald Mash, Rebecca Matter, Susan Mc Intyre, Sue Moore, Cheryl Muller, Bobby Pitts, Jill Prushiek, Donna Raleigh, Scott Robertson, Connie Russell, Kristen Sandager, Nola Schmitt, Roger Selin, Earl Shoemaker, Alex Smith, Carter Smith, Larry Solberg, Linda Spaeth, Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan, Todd Stephens, Daniel Stevenson, Paula Stuettgen, Kent Syverson, Lois Taft, Steve Tallant, Karen Welch, Sharon Westphal, Scott Whitfield, Michael Wick, Jean Wilcox, Steve Zantow

 

Members Absent:

 

Paul Butrymowicz, Jesse Dixon, Dan Drumm, Bruce Dybvik, Larry Honl, Tarique Niazi, Lorraine Smith, Troy Terhark, Rebecca Wurzer

 

Guests:

 

Robert Bolles, Donald Christian, Bernard Duyfhuizen, Andrew Phillips, Andrew Soll, Elaine Wendt

 

 

The regular meeting of University Senate was called to order at 3:02 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center.

 

I.        Without objection, 41st Session of University Senate to use Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 2000, 10th print edition, with following Order of Business: Approval of Minutes; Chancellor's Remarks; Chair and Faculty Representative’s Report; Academic Staff Representative’s Report; Unfinished Business and General Orders; Reports of Committees; Special Reports; Special Orders; Miscellaneous Business of the Body; Announcements; Program; Adjournment

II.      Minutes of May 11, 2004 University Senate meeting approved as distributed
Minutes of August 24, 2004 University Faculty and University Academic Staff meeting approved as corrected on page 2:

·         Excellence in Scholarship Service Award to Dr. Susan Moch, Professor, Family Health Nursing

·         Excellence in Service Scholarship Award to Dr. Bruce Taylor, Professor, English

Minutes of August 25, 2004 special meeting of University Faculty approved as distributed

 

Without objection, order of business for meeting today will be as on printed agenda

 

III.     University Senate Elections – Chair Harrison

·         Role of governance, procedures and structure of University Senate, senate responsibilities, role of senate committees, and possible committee topics will be interspersed throughout election process today

·         Blue sheet includes description of each senate committee and motions brought forward by that committee last year

·         Again this year, to allow more time to work through particular issues, first reading, including discussion, of motions will take place at one meeting with a second reading, including action, taken at next senate meeting

·         Within right to suspend rules and vote during first reading if believe topic does not warrant additional discussion - request to suspend rules requires two-thirds majority vote

·         Need to be willing to speak up during senate meetings about various issues, ask questions for clarity, seek answers, suggest ideas, and report back to your constituents

·         If unable to attend a meeting, handouts distributed at that meeting will be included in next meeting packet

·         Pamphlets will be distributed across campus soon describing University Senate – contact members of your department or unit to let your colleagues know who you are and that you are willing to hear suggestions

·         Yellow leaflet provides 2004-05 senate calendar, list of senators, and senate contact information

·         Please replace Warren Gallagher with Cheryl Muller as senator from Chemistry Department

·         Membership of University Senate includes approximately 10% of faculty and academic staff eligible to vote; has grown slightly due to reorganization of units – now up to 75-member senate

·         New Senators

·         Robin Baker – Athletics

·         Judy Blackstone – Counseling Services

·         Charlene Burns – Philosophy and Religious Studies (first semester)

·         Randy Dickerson – Music and Theatre Arts

·         Selika Ducksworth-Lawton – History

·         Jeff Erger – Sociology

·         Gloria Fennell – Social Work

·         Jennifer Johs-Artisensi – Public Health Professions

·         Harry Jol – Geography and Anthropology

·         Jennifer Lee – Housing and Residence Life

·         Bruce Lo – Management Information Systems

·         David Lonzarich – Biology

·         Karl Markgraf – International Education

·         Sue Moore – Records and Registration

·         Cheryl Muller - Chemistry

·         Tarique Niazi – Sociology

·         Jill Prushiek – Foundations of Education

·         Donna Raleigh – Teaching and Learning Technology Department Center

·         Scott Robertson – Art & Design

·         Kristen Sandager – Health Services

·         Nola Schmitt – Family Health Nursing

·         Larry Solberg – Communication Disorders

·         Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan – Continuing Education

·         Daniel Stevenson – Computer Science

·         Troy Terhark – University Recreation

·         Returning Senators

·         Joey Bohl – Admissions

·         Marcia Bollinger – Nursing

·         Don Bredle – Kinesiology

·         Jack Bushnell – English

·         Paul Butrymowicz – University Centers and Programs

·         Jesse Dixon – Multicultural Affairs

·         Michael Dorsher – Communication and Journalism

·         Dan Drumm – Computing and Networking Services

·         Margaret Dwyer – Accounting and Finance

·         Bruce Dybvik – Teaching and Learning Technology Development Center

·         Robert Erffmeyer – Management and Marketing

·         Leslie Foster – Library

·         Mitchell Freymiller – Biology

·         Alan Gallaher – Communication Disorders

·         Andrea Gapko – Educational Support Services

·         Betty (Twink) Hanson – Educational Access

·         Susan Harrison – Computer Science

·         Ann Hoffman – News Bureau

·         Robert Hollon – Curriculum and Instruction

·         Larry Honl – Business Communication

·         Robert Hooper – Geology

·         Rosemary Jadack – Adult Health Nursing

·         Fred Kolb – Economics

·         Kate Lang – History

·         Gene Leisz – Teaching and Learning Technology Development Center

·         Barbara Lozar – Psychology

·         Steven Majstorovic – Political Science

·         Rebecca Matter – Advising, Testing, and Orientation

·         Susan Mc Intyre – Curriculum and Instruction

·         Bobby Pitts – Art & Design

·         Connie Russell – Records and Registration

·         Roger Selin – Accounting and Finance

·         Earl Shoemaker – Educational Support Services

·         Alex Smith – Mathematics

·         Carter Smith – Foreign Languages

·         Lorraine Smith – Nursing and Health Sciences

·         Linda Spaeth – Educational Support Services

·         Todd Stephens – Special Education

·         Paula Stuettgen – University Centers and Programs

·         Kent Syverson – Geology

·         Lois Taft – Nursing Systems

·         Karen Welch – English

·         Sharon Westphal – Psychology

·         Scott Whitfield – Physics and Astronomy

·         Michael Wick – Computer Science

·         Jean Wilcox – Career Services

·         Rebecca Wurzer – Children’s Center

·         Steve Zantow – Financial Aid

·         Continuing Senators by Virtue of Position

·         Steven Tallant, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor

·         Donald Mash, Chancellor

·         Officers listed on back of leaflet

·         Senator Gapko, Vice Chair

·         Senator Wilcox, Academic Staff Representative to UW-System

·         Chair Harrison, Faculty Representative to UW-System

·         Wanda Schulner, Secretary to University Senate

·         To enable Senate Committees to effectively and efficiently conduct business, parliamentary procedure and University Senate Constitution and Bylaws followed

·         Pamphlet in packet briefly explains procedures and motions; commonly-used motions listed on back of name card

·         Do not have returning parliamentarian with expiration of Dr. Smiar’s senate term

·         Constitution located in Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook accessible through senate website

·         In few cases where senate committees empowered by full senate to make final decisions, such decisions reported by committees for the record to full Senate

·         Documents official decisions made by committees

·         Allows opportunity for any senator to question decision if necessary

 

A.      Executive Committee Elections

·         Functions

·         Establishes agendas for senate meetings

·         Calls special meetings of University Senate

·         Makes recommendations on matters referred to it by full senate

·         Serves as negotiating body for senate actions found unacceptable by chancellor

·         Serves as consulting body when administration suggesting changes in reporting lines, additions to administrative structure, or title changes for university-wide positions

·         At last Executive Committee meeting, discussed changes to membership on some committees in handbook due to reorganization

·         Will be on agenda again next week to discuss how want to apportion committees in light of changes

·         Subcommittee of University Faculty members of Executive Committee consulted with chancellor about his concerns on post-tenure review senate action

·         Following procedure in handbook, minor changes in language agreed upon during that consultation will be brought to full senate for approval

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Executive Committee

·         From Arts & Sciences, Steven Majstorovic (Political Science) and Scott Robertson (Art & Design)

·         From any area, Gloria Fennell (Social Work), Robert Hollon (Curriculum and Instruction), and Roger Selin (Accounting and Finance)

·         From Academic Staff, Paul Butrymowicz (University Centers/Programs), Mitchell Freymiller (Biology), Connie Russell (Records and Registration) and Linda Spaeth (Educational Support Services)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to University Senate Executive Committee: Steven Majstorovic, Scott Robertson, Gloria Fennell, Robert Hollon, Connie Russell, and Linda Spaeth

               

B.      Faculty Representative to UW-System Election

·         Role of faculty rep to serve as communication link between system administration and faculty

·         Regents use faculty reps to gauge pulse of faculty across system

·         New president wants to work more closely with faculty reps

·         Person elected will serve this year as rep-elect to have opportunity to get schedule in place for next fall

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Faculty Representative

·         Meg Dwyer (Accounting and Finance)

·         Bobby Pitts (Art & Design)

·         Michael Wick (Computer Science)

·         No additional nominations from floor

·         Each nominee asked to share ideas about position of faculty rep

·         Senator Dwyer

·         Thank Susan for seven years of service representing UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff at Madison – has done wonderful job

·         Issues of utmost importance as we go forward

·         Hopefully will have opportunity to add back positions on campus

·         Important to discuss how to go about that task for those positions and also for positions from people retiring

·         Important to maintain quality of students – need to discuss here and with regents

·         Even though pay plan already on everybody’s radar screen, cannot mention it enough

·         Where we need to be relative to peers quite a task

·         Health care going to be of major importance

·         Regents need to hear that from us

·         Not going to be able to solve within system, but in larger conversation with state

·         Would be my pleasure to represent you in presenting those topics to folks in Madison

·         Senator Pitts

·         Appreciate opportunity; interested in position because I am up to it

·         Have served in senate since 1996 both as department and at-large representative

·         On number of committees

·         Served as chair of Physical Plant Planning Committee

·         Served as vice chair of senate

·         Understand issues and when there is consensus among faculty and staff, comfortable speaking up

·         Last year at regent meeting in Oshkosh, heard them talking about surreptitious ways to augment president’s salary in year faculty got no raise

·         After making sure that is what they were talking about, some faculty found newspaper reporter

·         That item was taken from table after it appeared in paper

·         So, not only electing someone to speak, but someone to listen and pay attention

·         Fact is sometimes regents are wrong; I won’t mind telling them that

·         Senator Wick

·         Sat in on portion of faculty reps meeting last week while in Madison for UW-System Compensation Advisory Committee meeting

·         Surprised they spent a lot of time talking about role that group should play in its relationship to UW-System

·         Apparently trying to restructure from communication role of past to more deliberative body that will have input and advisory role on various policies and procedures

·         Have been involved with Faculty Personnel and Compensation Committees for almost a decade

·         Would like to represent our concerns on those issues to system

 

Elected as Faculty Representative-Elect to UW-System: Michael Wick

                                               

C.      Academic Staff Representative to UW-System Election

·         Serves in communication role between system administration and academic staff, especially in area of personnel rules

·         Academic staff reps also asking for more input and greater involvement

·         Person elected today to immediately become member of Academic Staff Personnel Committee and begin two-year term as academic staff rep on July 1, 2005

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Academic Staff Representative

·         Mitchell Freymiller (Biology)

·         Additional nomination from floor

·         Judy Blackstone (Counseling Services)

·         Opportunity for both nominees to present

·         Senator Freymiller

·         Attended four of last five Academic Staff Leadership Conferences and have learned quite a bit about role both administrative and professional as well as instructional academic staff play at this institution

·         Have gotten interested in that aspect of governance

·         Think could be a few more instructional academic staff reps on that council to deal with big issue system-wide –  number of instructional academic staff being employed by different institutions

·         Would appreciate your vote and will do my best to serve all academic staff

·         Senator Blackstone

·         Even though just elected to senate representing my office, have long history of service to university

·         On senate, Academic Staff Personnel, Budget, Compensation, and Executive Committees and original academic staff titling committee

·         My knowledge of all ways academic staff use skills and talents to make this university good would be at forefront of my representation

 

Elected as Academic Staff Representative-Elect to UW-System: Judy Blackstone

                                               

D.      Academic Policies Committee Elections

·         Very active committee which recommends policies for academic programs at university

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Academic Policies Committee

·         From Business, Meg Dwyer (Accounting and Finance) and Bruce Lo (Management Information Systems)

·         From any area, Jack Bushnell (English), Alan Gallaher (Communication Disorders), Robert Hollon (Curriculum and Instruction), Cheryl Muller (Chemistry), Bobby Pitts (Art & Design), and Kent Syverson (Geology)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to University Senate Academic Policies Committee: Meg Dwyer, Jack Bushnell, Alan Gallaher, Cheryl Muller, Bobby Pitts, and Kent Syverson

               

E.       Nominating Committee Elections

·         Presents nominations for all senate positions; very active for short time

·         Comments for Committee

·         Would like to see policy that makes sure people currently serving are given call to see if they would like to run again; sometimes it’s done, sometimes it’s not

·         Motion also coming forward this year for staggered two-year terms on nominating committees

·         Now elect new members annually so face learning curve each year

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Nominating Committee

·         From University Faculty, Jeff Erger (Sociology), Selika Ducksworth-Lawton (History), Carter Smith (Foreign Languages), Scott Whitfield (Physics and Astronomy), and Michael Wick (Computer Science)

·         From University Academic Staff, Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan (Continuing Education), Paula Stuettgen (University Centers/Programs), and Jean Wilcox (Career Services)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to University Senate Nominating Committee: Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Carter Smith, Scott Whitfield, Paula Stuettgen, Jean Wilcox, and Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan

                                               

F.       Faculty Personnel Committee Election

·         Considers and recommends policies affecting faculty; committee has many topics to discuss this year

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Faculty Personnel Committee

·         From Education and Human Sciences, Jill Prushiek (Foundations of Education) and Larry Solberg (Communication Disorders)

·         From Nursing and Health Sciences, Nola Schmitt (Family Health Nursing)

·         From Arts and Sciences, Randy Dickerson (Music and Theatre Arts)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

MOTION by Senator Gallaher to suspend the rules to allow the ballot for colleges of Nursing and Health Sciences and Arts and Sciences to stand seconded and PASSED without dissension.

 

Elected to University Senate Faculty Personnel Committee: Jill Prushiek, Nola Schmitt, and Randy Dickerson

                                               

G.      Academic Staff Personnel Committee Election

·         Considers and recommends policies affecting academic staff

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Academic Staff Personnel Committee

·         Rebecca Matter (Advising, Testing, and Orientation), Earl Shoemaker (Educational Support Services), Linda Spaeth (Educational Support Services), and Steve Zantow (Financial Aid)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to University Senate Academic Staff Personnel Committee: Rebecca Matter and Linda Spaeth

                                               

  1. Compensation Committee Election

·         Charged with developing and proposing faculty and academic staff pay plan

 

Report of UW-Eau Claire Representatives to UW-System Compensation Advisory Committee – Senator Wick and Vice Chair Gapko

·         Senator Wick

·         Met September 3, 2004 in Madison; President Reilly shared primary message of access and success

·         Access for low and middle income families, for adult returning students, and to excellent faculty

·         Success in that Wisconsin deserves more and better baccalaureate degrees; university system can play significant economic development role within state

·         Compensation message was link between investments in our salaries and bottom dollar income of state

·         Compensation affects quality, quality affects graduate success, graduate success affects personal income and personal income affects operating budget

·         Well-documented conclusion that each $1 invested in UW-System yields $10 income for state

·         Data brought up

·         Projected growth in personal income for Wisconsin over 2006 and 2007 about 5.6% and 5.8%

·         Can appeal for access to those funds

·         UW-System 6.12% behind peers in 2003-2004

·         Getting worse (4.15% in 2002-2003); will be at least 7.6% behind entering 2005-2006 because of 0% years while peers receiving increases

·         Comprehensives worst off of group at 9.11% behind

·         At UW-Eau Claire

·         Professors approximately $8,300 behind peers; 8th out of 13 comprehensives, 33rd out of 33-element peer group

·         Associate professors approximately $5,700 behind; 6th out of comprehensives and 33rd in peer group

·         At assistant professor rank, $2,300 behind; 9th out of comprehensives and 24th in peer group

·         UW-System’s turnover rate is 7.4% compared to 6.3% for municipal employees and 3.8% in public schools

·         Data show salary increases for various groups in reverse proportion to those figures

·         85% of system resignations from other than retirements

·         Right now 27% of unclassified employees in system retirement eligible

·         Another 31% will be within next 10 years

·         Projected number of available PhD’s dramatically below number of vacancies based on those retirements

·         For first time came away excited about meeting and about message

·         President Reilly’s tentative recommendation to Board of Regents will be 5% for first year and 5.5% for second year with explicit tie to growth in personal income for Wisconsin

·         President Reilly also collecting anecdotes of budget and salary impact from every campus – stories about rejections of first offers, thoughts of retirement, inability to make counter-offers

·         Also collecting data on impact of salaries on recruitment and retention

·         Send stories to wickmr@uwec.edu

·         Very successful meeting because data look terrible, but for first time everybody, including some legislators, agree situation is terrible so some progress might be made

·         Vice Chair Gapko

·         Academic staff can send anecdotal information to gapkoam@uwec.edu – information on hiring trials, offers being rejected, counter-offers, retirements, people leaving for higher salaries

·         Comprehensive universities are 9% behind peers

·         Overall faculty 6% behind, academic staff 17.6% behind

·         Compensation Committee continues to recommend faculty and academic staff be kept together for seeking salary increases because fear if separated academic staff would fare even worse

·         Response to questions from floor

·         Vice Chair Gapko agrees academic staff would fare worse if decoupled from faculty, especially if compared to classified staff

·         No degree required for classified staff; majority of academic staff have master’s degree

·         Academic Staff Representative Wilcox also agrees

·         Is some movement and continued discussion about partner benefits, but that would take place in fringe benefits advisory committee, not compensation

·         Ed Young from Economics Department is representative to that committee

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Compensation Committee

·         From University Faculty, Meg Dwyer (Accounting and Finance) and Alan Gallaher (Communication Disorders)

·         From University Academic Staff, Judy Blackstone (Counseling Services) and Jennifer Lee (Housing and Residence Life)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to University Senate Compensation Committee: Meg Dwyer and Judy Blackstone

                                               

  1. Budget Committee Election

·         Investigates all matters related to university budget

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Budget Committee

·         From Business, Bruce Lo (Management Information Systems) and Roger Selin (Accounting and Finance)

·         From Nursing and Health Sciences, Rose Jadack (Adult Health Nursing) and Jennifer Johs-Artisensi (Public Health Professions)

·         From Education and Human Sciences, Gloria Fennell (Social Work) and Larry Solberg (Communication Disorders)

·         From Arts and Sciences, David Lonzarich (Biology)

·         From Academic Staff, Karl Markgraf (International Education), Rebecca Matter (Advising, Testing, and Orientation), and Steve Zantow (Financial Aid)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

MOTION by Senator Syverson to suspend the rules to allow the ballot from Arts and Sciences to stand seconded and PASSED without dissention

 

Elected to University Senate Budget Committee: Roger Selin, Jennifer Johs-Artisensi, Gloria Fennell, David Lonzarich, and Karl Markgraf

               

  1. Physical Plant Planning Committee Election

·         Affectionately called “Parking and Smoking Committee” but do so much more than that

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Physical Plant Planning Committee

·         From University Faculty, Jack Bushnell (English), Randy Dickerson (Music and Theatre Arts), Fred Kolb (Economics), and Jill Prushiek (Foundations of Education)

·         From University Academic Staff, Marcia Bollinger (Nursing), Paula Stuettgen (University Centers/Programs) and Rebecca Wurzer (Children’s Center)

·         Jack Bushnell withdrew name after election to Academic Policies Committee

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to University Senate Physical Plant Planning Committee: Fred Kolb, Jill Prushiek, and Marcia Bollinger

                                               

  1. Technology Committee Election

·         Follows activities of technology-related committees across campus and provides guidance to senate

 

Report of University Senate Nominating Committee – Senator Russell

·         Nominations for Technology Committee

·         From University Faculty, Michael Dorsher (Communication and Journalism), Selika Ducksworth-Lawton (History), Robert Hollon (Curriculum and Instruction), and Harry Jol (Geography and Anthropology)

·         From University Academic Staff, Bruce Dybvik (TLTDC) and Sue Moore (Records and Registration)

·         No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to the University Senate Technology Committee: Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Robert Hollon, Harry Jol, and Sue Moore

               

IV.     Chancellor’s Remarks - Chancellor Mash

·         Welcome to another academic year and workings of senate

·         I will typically be available for opening remarks – often items relate to happenings in Madison or on larger scene

·         Doug Hallatt suffered heart attack yesterday afternoon and is in very serious condition at Sacred Heart Hospital

·         Board of Regents last Friday readily approved organizational restructuring that faculty approved at special meeting – now final and official

·         Have two new colleges – College of Education and Human Sciences and College of Nursing and Health Sciences

·         Degree to which there was collaboration, shared decision-making, and consultation, all things senate typically represents, speaks very well for way this university functions

·         Want to thank everyone for cooperation and support of restructuring

·         Folks in former School of Human Sciences and Services forced to choose new colleges and work through those dynamics, which they did very well

·         Leadership of former School of Education and School of Nursing for way they worked

·         Susan Harrison for help in shared governance process

·         Now positioned and organized in those areas to spotlight education and nursing and also illuminate departments from HSS with some interesting collaborations

·         Board of Regents budget request for 2005-2007 biennium, passed in August meeting, had key points

·         Looking for return to investment by state in our work

·         Modest tuition increases coupled with financial aid for lowest income citizens

·         Asking for return of number of positions – 300 system-wide

·         Reasonable pay plan

·         Must understand governor not looking for requests that expect state to fund significant new initiatives or increases in biennial budget

·         All now in process of advocating for better support for important work doing here for our students and for Wisconsin

·         Response to question from floor

·         Typically, get proportional share of system resources, about 5%; whether 300 positions, if received, will be apportioned that way not known

·         Might be some special initiatives that enter into mix

·         Trying to get special initiatives in front of governor as well – things he has said we need

·         Wisconsin Higher Education System not typical

·         Regents here meet monthly, are actively engaged; state has one large system, is very much involved in what system doing

·         Legislative Audit Bureau will release report on Friday looking at University of Wisconsin administrative structure – basically management audit

·         Have heard me say UW-System is leanest in country in terms of budget percentage used for administrative functions

·         Apparently study to use other state agencies as benchmark, not other public higher education systems – is troubling aspect

·         Also may be considering counselors as administration, along with program assistants in departments

·         Response will be that we compare ourselves to another benchmark; will not get into protracted public discussion about this information

·         Regents and system to look at possibility of approval of programs at system level, not Board of Regents level – in part due to comment made by Chair Harrison at most recent regents’ meeting

·         Academic year off to good start

·         Pleased with turnout for special initiative dealing with rethinking diversity

·         Program on scholarship of teaching and learning not as well attended

·         Have begun to give some thought to what we do during opening week; may begin to focus more toward our new people

·         Looking for suggestions – can be sent to Jan Morse

                               

V.      Report of University Senate Chair and Faculty Representative – Susan Harrison

·         Contact me at any time on items included in written Chair’s Report – available on senate website by noon on day of senate meeting

·         Report back to constituents often about information in Chair’s Report

·         Ensure them shared governance is playing a role in our discussion and refer them to minutes of senate meetings on web

·         Best way to become aware is reading pink sheet now electronically available – can see what is coming up on all senate committee agendas

·         Response to question from floor

·         Non-senators can attend all meetings (senate and committees); if recognized by chair, nonmember can speak

·         All regents’ comments and live audio feed of full board meetings now available on web

·         President Reilly wants public to know

 

VI.    Report of Academic Staff Representative – Senator Wilcox

·         Look forward to working with new academic staff representative this year in transition process

·         Mission and organizing principles put together by Academic Staff Representative Council distributed

·         Were concerned new president could be someone not knowing what academic staff was

·         Fortunately not true of President Reilly – very familiar with academic staff from former position

·         Still putting together fact sheet, talking points paper to explain academic staff

·         Could be used for talking to legislators and others – will bring to next senate meeting

·         Also concerned about legislative audit because of way legislators defining administrators

·         Just about any administrative and professional academic staff person would end up being an administrator – could be problematic

 

VII.  Miscellaneous Business – None

 

VIII.   Announcements – None

 

Without objection, Chair Harrison adjourned meeting at 4:45 p.m.

 

 

Wanda Schulner

Secretary to the University Senate