Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) 
Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) 
Annual Activity Report 
September 2009 – June 2010

Election Process 
A call for members was initiated by Katy Duren in August 2009. 
Membership was accomplished through volunteers – no election needed.

The committee for 2009-2010: 
Katy Duren – member, ex-officio 
Sage Goellner, (term expires Aug 2011) 
Jane Terpstra (term expires Aug 2011) 
William Tishler (term expires Aug 2010) 
David Werther (term expires Aug 2011) 
Ann Whitaker, (term expires Aug 2010)

Monthly meetings were held beginning September 9, 2009.

Activities

Division wide “Brown Bag” sessions with Interim Dean Marv Van Kekerix 
“Conversations with Marv” were held on:

October 6, 2009 
Topic: Existing and Developing Partnerships 
November 3, 2009 
Topic: Continuation of partnership discussion 
December 8, 2009 
Topic: Division planning council 
January 6, 2010 
Topic: Draft of proposed division planning council mission and composition was distributed and discussed

Surveys Distributed to DCS Staff:

Technology Needs Survey – November 2009 
A survey to determine technology needs and current satisfaction with existing software, hardware and service contracts. 
Compiled results forwarded to staff on December 14, 2009 
Results were reviewed by Division Leadership Team and forwarded to division IT Committee that distributed their response and plans to all division staff on March 19, 2010. 
Division Teaching & Learning sub-group will continue to research technology needs for instructional innovation and growth, and will coordinate requests for additional resources, etc.

Partnership Survey – February 2010 

A survey to compile the current relationships/partnerships between division faculty and staff and other organizations: UW-Madison and UW-Extension campus, other universities and colleges, government, and community agencies. 
The survey was sent to all division staff in February 2010. 
The results were a major component of Division self-study that was forwarded to Provost in April 2010.

Professional Development Survey – December 2009 
A survey to assess professional development needs of staff. The survey also identified “in-house” resources for future staff trainings. A summarized report was distributed to staff on January 11, 2010. Department chair was asked to consider including in-house training as part of regular department meetings. Action pending…

Staff Issues 
February 2, 2010 - Response to Interim Dean Van Kekerix. about decision to fill open Associate Dean position with a division faculty member rather than through an open search and screen which would have made it available to academic staff. CASI advocated for open search. CASI members met with the Dean on February 8 to discuss concerns. The position was subsequently filled with division faculty member for a two year term.

March 18, 2010 – e-mail sent to all division academic staff members highlighting the communication earlier that day from Provost DeLuca concerning Increased Job Security for Academic Staff.

New Academic Staff members: 

April McHugh – Adult and Student Services Center (Jim Hanson retirement – academic staff) 
Rita Mae Reese – Liberal Studies and the Arts (Marshall Cook retirement – faculty) 
Rebecca Hunt – Marketing and Communications – (position vacant since 2007)

Distance Education Professional Development staff transferred from School of Education to PDAS: 
Louise Fowler 
Chris Olgren 
Kimary Peterson 
Nancy Rebholz 
Jane Terpstra

New PVL posted in April 2010 for a Faculty Associate position for the Distance Education Professional Development unit of PDAS.

Laurel Yourke, faculty associate with Liberal Studies and the Arts will be retiring in August 2010. A PVL for faculty assistant/associate posted in May 2010. 
Illeanna Rodreguez, senior outreach specialist, received the Chancellor’s Award from the Student Personnel Association.

Other key faculty/staff changes: 
Jim Campbell, PDAS/LSA chair selected for Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. March 2010. 
July 2010 Jim will assume interim dean position when current Interim Dean Van Kekerix returns to interim chancellor position at UW Extension and Colleges. 
Narra Cox, professor, elected chair of PDAS/LSA in April 2010

Provost to act on PVL for permanent DCS Dean and search and screen committee. 
DCS CASI will continue to advocate for involvement of committee and division academic staff throughout the search process.