Approved 4-2-15

Members Present:  Bruno Browning, Trish Iaccarino; Sarah Kuba; Heather McFadden, Chair; Michael Moscicke; Kevin Niemi; Robert Newsom; Deb Shapiro

Guests: Darrell Bazzell, Jenny Dahlberg, Russell Dimond, Ellie Herman, Jason Jankoski, Dana Kampa, Nancy Lynch, Jake Smith

The meeting was called to order at 2:01 p.m. by Vice Chair Kevin Niemi.

The minutes of February 26 and March 17 were approved without changes.

Guest: Darrell Bazzell, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Darrell Bazzell talked briefly about the loss of sovereign immunity protection under the public authority proposal.  It means the university has greater exposure to lawsuits.  If a dedicated funding source is enacted, the base would be established after the cuts.  UW System would no longer receive cost to continue.  Tuition money would be needed to supplement the increase in the base by the percentage of the consumer price index.  Pay plans would be funded by tuition or other internal reallocation.

Revenue balances seem to be a concern with the legislature again.  The Board of Regents will take up tuition proposals in April.  There are many institutions who will be asking for undergraduate non-resident and graduate tuition increases.  This is the first time these types of increases will require formal approval that is not combined with the annual approval of tuition rates.  

Guest: Nancy Lynch, Office of Legal Affairs  
Nancy Lynch answered questions from ASEC members regarding the public authority proposal.  Under the new public authority proposal, there is a broad and sweeping delegation of power to the Board of Regents.  This would seem to give the Board of Regents the authority to implement things that are stricken from Chapter 36.  If public authority is removed, the Legislature will need to rewrite Chapter 36.  The directive for the Board of Regents is important.  The Legislature would need to explain what power the Regents do have if things remain stricken from Chapter 36.  

General Reports
•    ASEC Vice Chair Kevin Niemi discussed the UW System Academic Staff Representatives meeting.  Regents Michael Falbo and Regina Millner were present.  The major points that were discussed at the meeting have appeared in stories from the media.  Kevin, Heather M. and Heather D. met with the Chancellor regarding job security for academic staff.  The Chancellor was interested in encouraging the use of longer term multiple year contracts (5-10 years), and thought the new human resources system would be a good time to begin encouraging the use of these longer contracts.  
Mark Covaleski attended the University Committee meeting to discuss possible changes to the Athletic Board search and screen policy.  David Gardner, student appointee on Athletic Board, will schedule a meeting with Mark and someone from ASEC to agree on new language regarding hiring procedures to be brought to the Athletic Board for a vote.  Heather M will send out the governance sessions regarding the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory director candidates to the Vet Med CASI.
•    Secretary of the Academic Staff Heather Daniels reported that the Academic Staff Institute was held this week and seemed to be well received.  There have been some new situations regarding the initial evaluation period codified in ASPP.  Heather D will be meeting with PPPC co-chairs to discuss.  Heather D has also received several questions from academic staff who believed they were becoming university staff on July 1.  She has brought this to the attention of the Office of Human Resources during an HR Design Audience Point Person meeting.

Business
•    CEBC whitepaper on academic staff title and promotional structure survey
Jenny Dahlberg and Jason Jankoski, CEBC co-chairs, described the major themes from the survey.  They include: compensation is really important; people feel stuck; people don’t understand the current system; people feel their title does not reflect their work; many people think merit is used for salary increases.  There was a discussion about making the raw data available.  There was also a discussion about whether a follow up survey should be sent.  The report will be presented at the April Assembly meeting.
•    April Assembly agenda
The report from CEBC will be placed under the guest portion of the agenda.  The addition of resolutions regarding merit pay, flexibilities and the context on Chapter 36 were suggested as additions.
•    Procedures to encourage new CASIs
ASEC agreed to develop a survey to send out to academic staff who are in divisions/schools/colleges without CASIs to see if there is interest in forming a CASI.  The results will be reported to Darrell Bazzell and Sarah Mangelsdorf.  The letter encouraging the formation of CASIs developed by ASEC can then be used in a targeted way.
•    Future Topics for Provost
The topics of Title IX investigation and back up appointments were suggested.
•    Next ASEC Meeting, March 26, 2015 – for decision
-April Assembly Agenda
-HR Design policies
-CASI survey-draft
-Guests: Sarah Mangelsdorf, Michael Bernard-Donals

Convened in Closed Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss appointments to the Ad Hoc Committee on Hostile and Intimidating Behavior and the Ad Hoc Committee on Instructional Titles (Moved. Seconded. Approved.)

Reconvened in Open Session (Moved. Seconded. Approved.)

Motion to appoint Christina Matta, Ricardo Court, Tom Eggert, Carrie Sperling, Christine Stephenson, Robin Kurtz, Kim Manner, Nick Hill, Sarah Jedd, Joseph Towles and Mark Connolly (as chair) to the Ad Hoc Committee on Instructional Titles.  Seconded. Approved.

Motion to appoint Deb Shapiro and Heather Daniels to the Ad Hoc Committee on Hostile and Intimidating Behavior.  Seconded.  Approved.

Meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Academic Staff