Chair’s Report for April 24, 2001

 

Senate update

1.        Important links to agendas, minutes, Chair's Reports and other sites of interest are available
on the Senate web site: http://www.uwec.edu/Usenate. Senate Chair’s Report will be available on this site by noon on the day of the Senate meeting.

2.        During debates, Senators may speak only twice to any motion or amendment. Each speaking term is limited to 10 minutes. The Chair will add names of those wishing to speak to a speaker's list upon recognition.

 

Open Forum Items from Senate Executive Committee Meeting minutes

1.         Riverbank project

• Acknowledged not as much early communication as should have been on this issue to university  and community

2.        Possibility of 12-month pay plan for academic year unclassified staff

• Chancellor Mash indicated he has been relentless (almost obnoxious) on this issue with System
• Had seen this as fairly easy personnel change to make
• Apparently new software to process payroll being discussed
• System would prefer to wait until after conversion if new software adopted
• Will continue pressure on System
• Recalling from last time issue surfaced, problems were that state employees must be paid in timely manner and secondly 12-month plan currently an option through State Credit Union
• Requirements that employees be paid within 30 days exempt University of Wisconsin System
• When instituted, nine-month pay plan was sold on an efficiency basis as payroll changed to central processing

3.        Phillips Hall renovation

• Faculty in Phillips Hall told very possible that next phase of renovation may not be complete by beginning of fall semester
• Vice Chancellor Soll first heard of possibility last week
• Contractor confirmed concern at progress meeting last week with Terry Classen of Facilities Planning and Management
• Immediately contacted registrar
• Work with chairs in progress to change some 51 lectures
• At this time, all but three relocated; still working on those three and expect resolution
• Also meeting with chairs to discuss possibilities of changing order of work to accommodate; for example, if can complete two floors, which two to complete, etc.
• Typically, state contracts do not include a penalty clause for not completing work by specified date because simply increased cost of project as contractors raised bid to cover such a contingency
• Part of reason for late completion results from changes university requested; for example, continued to occupy and work in areas previously said would be vacant for construction

4.        Calendar – why April break with Monday and Friday off when spring semester already shorter than fall

5.        Related to riverbank issue, people in Third Ward noticing survey flags among trees along road through Putnam Park

• Because of lack of communication in past, worried what plans might be for that area
• Vice Chancellor Soll confirmed will be some work done in area west of State Street toward Nursing Building
• Will be installing water main related to fire protection for dorms
• Will run directly down center of road; work to commence in November in order to cause least amount of damage to nearby vegetation as more dormant at that time
• Putnam Park Commission involved in design of project; engineers presented at January open meeting
• Do not know formal communication process; had thought representatives of various entities on that commission would report back
• Will contact Third Ward Association
• Apparent from this and riverbank project that many people concerned about such issues, perhaps need broader sense of awareness and pay special attention to communication about these sensitive issues

 

Legislative Update:  http://www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/govrel/lupdate/index.htm

PowerPoint of UWEC’s Space Issues presentation:  http://www.uwec.edu/Usenate/SpaceIssuesDraft.ppt