Approved 9-25-14

Members Present: Marwa Bassiouni; Bruno Browning; Heather McFadden, Chair; Michael Moscicke; Robert Newsom, Kevin Niemi, Vice-Chair

Guests: Michael Bernard-Donals, Donna Cole, Sarah Mangelsdorf, Karl Scholz, Jake Smith, Carol Van Hulle

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.

The minutes of September 4, 2014, were approved with corrections.

Guest: Sarah Mangelsdorf, Provost

Provost Mangelsdorf discussed the deans’ retreat occurring on Wednesday, September 24. The focus of the retreat is the budget cutting exercise and discussion of the proposed new budget model. The provost indicated that she would have more details for the next meeting. ASEC inquired about the possible Chapter 6 Budget Committee and expressed a desire for annual formal input from governance on the budget via a mechanism in FP&P.

Provost Mangelsdorf also gave updates on Unizin, expressing the enthusiasm surrounding the project and indicated that due diligence was taking place for the possible concerns. She also gave a brief update on Office 365.

Guest: Karl Scholz, Dean of the College of Letters and Science

Dean Scholz provided an update on interactions with the CASI and academic staff members within L&S, including his monthly meeting with the CASI and the listening session he does once per semester. He indicated the climate committee meets monthly and discussed the healthy workplace description that the committee developed, which complements the campus-wide civility initiative.

ASEC asked Dean Scholz about the possibility of expanding resources for professional development opportunities. He talked about the college funding PD grants within the department level and indicated that the college has been aggressive in using resources for compensation plans that help academic staff. ASEC commended Dean Scholz and the college for the early use of the CCF exercise.

Dean Scholz also discussed the budget exercise, reemphasizing the lack of across the board cuts, and indicated focus on 4 different areas of resource allocation: 1) budget status reports, documenting spending on resources; 2) systematic assessment of research quality; 3) work on teaching metrics, with increasing levels of sophistication in analysis; and 4) high impact practices for undergraduates (e.g. service learning, research experience, etc.). There are also conversations about effectiveness of structures, and Dean Scholz emphasized that these discussions are either driven by faculty and staff or done with the close involvement of faculty and staff.

General Reports

•    Chair Heather McFadden reported that ASEC was asked by John Lucas and Alice Gustafson to provide suggestions for an internal communications committee. The University Committee would also like to meet with ASEC regarding bottom-up reviews in departments. Following up on the earlier discussion of CASIs, there was also a suggestion of surveying the CASIs to determine best practices. Heather M. discussed the September Assembly meeting and asked for volunteers to assist with microphone running during the meeting. She also addressed the question of how often ASEC would like to meet with the Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. ASEC indicated that it would like to meet with her monthly, as well as with the Interim Dean of the Graduate School.

•    Deputy Secretary of the Academic Staff Jake Smith reported that the Fall 2014 cycle of Academic Staff Professional Development Grants has begun. He also asked for more volunteers for the ASEC booth at the upcoming Benefits Fair. Jake and Heather M. also discussed the agenda for the Academic Staff Governance Orientation session that will be held on Wednesday, October 1.

Liaison Reports

•    Kevin Niemi informed ASEC that there is a joint meeting of UW System Academic Staff Representatives and Faculty Representatives on Friday, September 26.

•    Bruno Browning reported on the first meeting of the Mentoring Committee, in which he assisted the committee with questions on ASPP. The committee also elected its co-chairs. Bruno also reported on the Joint Committee on Faculty Supervision, which includes UC and CSEC representation. The committee is checking to verify that faculty supervision is an existing part of HR Design, and it also discussed having focus groups to get a picture of the current situation.

Guest: Michael Bernard-Donals, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff

Vice Provost Bernard-Donals discussed the question of including some types of academic staff in a potential high-demand exercise. After discussion, ASEC recommended that academic staff be grouped with faculty for consideration, and that the units should decide amongst all academic staff.

Business

• Performance Management Penalties
• Donna Cole reported on the committee’s suggested penalties for any supervisor who fails to provide a performance evaluation and asked for feedback on whether the consequences should be brought to the assembly.
• Motion to approve suggested penalties with the caveat that the tools and training on the performance management process be in place before implementation (Moved. Seconded. Approved.)
• Report from Ad Hoc Committee on Performance Management
• A compromise was reached regarding mid-point feedback; documentation of the feedback could consist of a minimum of a checked box after having a conversation with the employee.
• Michael Moscicke will revise the HR Design background document; ASEC will provide its thoughts/feedback on the revision.
• October Assembly Agenda
• Postponed to next meeting
• Next ASEC Meeting, September 25, 2014 – for decision
• Procedure for Nominating Slates of Academic Staff Members to a Committee
• October Assembly Agenda
• Assembly Planning
• Guests: Sarah Mangelsdorf, Steve Lund, Jeff Russell

Convened in Closed Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss nominations for the Dean of the Graduate School search-and-screen committee (Moved. Seconded. Approved.)

Meeting adjourned due to loss of quorum at 4:35 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Jake Smith, Deputy Secretary of the Academic Staff