Chair’s Report for January 28, 2003

 

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.    {Executive Committee, January 21st} Discussion of ways to build bridge to State Representative Rob Kreibich  – see draft letter

 

Special Senate Executive Committee Meeting held December 18th on Academic Calendar 2004-2005

 1.    {from the Executive Committee minutes of December 18th}

Chancellor Mash at this point has neither approved nor rejected that Senate action

Senate Chair has received emails, personal visits, and heard rumblings concerning passage of calendar; feedback centered on two issues

Severely limited classroom instruction in fall semester

Passage of calendar without customary first reading/second reading, allowing time between to gather opinions of constituents

After consultation with Shared Governance Discussion Group, decision was made to call this special meeting for twofold purpose

Allow chancellor to hear additional comments concerning calendar to aid his decision

Allow Executive Committee to act on behalf of full Senate if decision contrary to that passed at Senate meeting of December 10, 2002

Negotiation with Executive Committee and then return to full Senate required when chancellor does not approve action taken by Senate. In instances where not feasible to conduct a meeting of full Senate, Executive Committee does have power to act in its stead

Unfortunately Chancellor Mash is ill and unable to attend this meeting; notes will be shared as soon as possible

Request to get calendar options to Senate in early November in subsequent years to allow plenty of time for action noted

After much discussion, the following motion was passed:

TEXT OF MOTION: (passed by University Senate Executive Committee, on behalf of the full University Senate)

The proposed University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire calendar for 2004-2005 with Winterim be approved as follows

       


Fall Semester 2004:

Aug 23 – First Day of Faculty Contractual Period

Aug 30-Sept 1 – Advising and Registration

Sept 2 – Classes Begin

Sept 6 – Labor Day Holiday

Sept 7 – Classes Resume

Nov 24 – Thanksgiving Recess begins 5 p.m.

Nov 29 – Classes Resume

Dec 13-17 – Final Examinations Week

Dec 18 – Commencement

       

Winterim 2005:

Jan 3 – Classes Begin

Jan 17 – Martin Luther King Holiday

Jan 21 – Last Day of Classes

       

Spring Semester 2005:

Jan 24-25 – Advising and Registration

Jan 26 – Classes Begin

Mar 21-28 – Spring Break

       Mar 29 – Classes Resume

May 16-20 – Final Examinations Week

May 21 – Commencement

May 22 – Last Day of Faculty Contractual Period

 

Update – Chancellor signed off accepting Option 1 – the above option.

Other Items discussed with the Chair

For your Information:

  1. Handbook committee – language referring to Mini-sessions during the academic year, Chapter 5, page 39 will be updated to match changes in ACPS-4 (a UW System document) stating: Faculty (and instructional academic staff) may receive additional payment for mini-sessions scheduled during the academic year when the addition of a mini-session or inter-session results in a teaching load that exceeds the institution’s regular expected teaching load for fall and spring semesters.
  2. Handbook committee – add phrase ‘or partners’ to Chapter 6, page 4, University Privileges and Services: ID Cards in the following sentence: Spouses or partners of faculty and academic staff may obtain Blugold cards for a fee and receive the same Blugold card privileges.

 

Faculty Reps Meeting – January 31st

 

Board of Regents Meeting  - February 6th & 7th

 

Legislative Update

  1. Doyle Asks for Budget Message Delay Governor Doyle asked legislative leaders today to present his budget message to the Legislature on Tuesday, February 18, 2003.  State statutes say the message should be presented on or before the last Tuesday in January, but may be delayed upon request of the governor to the Legislature.
  2. Budget Overhaul Requested of Cabinet Secretaries Governor Doyle has requested that cabinet secretaries redo their budgets "and resubmit a significantly lower budget request than those submitted by the outgoing administration." The budget requests should be lower in terms of GPR spending.  Doyle indicated that freezing spending and making cuts are two options the administration may take to balance the budget.  Doyle also suggested that job cuts were planned and that the UW System will be part of the process.
  3. Senate Committee Members Named Majority Leader Mary Panzer named Republican Senators Dale Schultz (Richland Center) and Rob Cowles (Green Bay) and Minority Leader Jon Erpenbach named Senators Roger Breske (Eland) and Chuck Chvala (Madison) to the Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee.
  4. Also named were members of the Joint Committee on Employment Relations.  They include: Chair John Gard (Peshtigo), Dean Kaufert (Neenah), Steve Foti (Oconomowoc), Jim Kreuser (Kenosha), Mary Panzer (West Bend), Bob Welch (Redgranite), Alberta Darling (River Hills) and Jon Erpenbach (Middleton).
  5. The Assembly Budget Review Committee held a hearing this week on AB 3 (Pettis), a measure that prohibits state agencies from filling more than 80 percent of the total number of full-time equivalent positions that become vacant during the fiscal year. Margaret Lewis, UW System Associate Vice President for University Relations, testified in opposition to the bill. The executive session on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 9:00 a.m. in 328 North West.
  6. Gov. Jim Doyle has outlined 2002-03 budget cuts. The 5 percent "administrative cut" for the UW System is about $6.9 million, to be lapsed to the general fund by June 30, 2003. Note that the lapse is 5 percent of the annual appropriation, but must be taken over the next 6 months.
  7. Link to the governor's document on budget cuts: http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/Jan03/0123doyledeficit.pdf
  8. Link to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) 2002-03 Revenue Estimates: htttp://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/Misc/012303Revest.pdf
  9. The governor's appointees to the UW System Board of Regents were referred to the Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee. The Chair of the committee is Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls). There is no schedule yet for confirmation hearings. The appointees and their term of appointment:

• Mark Bradley of Wausau to the UW System Board of Regents (May 1, 2008).

• Danae Davis of Milwaukee to the UW System Board of Regents. (May 1, 2007).

• Jesus Salas of Milwaukee to the UW System Board of Regents. (May 1, 2009).

• David Walsh of Madison to the UW System Board of Regents. (May 1, 2008).

• Peggy Rosenzweig of Wauwatosa to the UW System Board of Regents. (May 1, 2007).

  1. Gov. Doyle will deliver his State of the State address on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, at 7:00 p.m.