Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 10-05-17
Approved 10-19-17
Members Present: Bruno Browning; Aaron Crandall; Jenny Dahlberg; Kevin Niemi, chair; Jim Rogers; Lindsey Stoddard Cameron
Guests: Michael Bernard-Donals, Nadine Connor, Jackie Hank, Marsha Mailick, Jake Smith, Megan Spurgeon
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.
The minutes of September 28, 2017, were approved.
General Reports
ASEC Chair Kevin Niemi reported he met with the chair of the University Committee, Anja Wanner. They discussed the Board of Regents resolutions and the report about Faculty Assistants at the Faculty Senate. Also there are two pending bills in the state legislature on fetal tissue research.
Secretary of the Academic Staff Heather Daniels reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Instructional Titles met for the first time. There was a lot of interest expressed in seeing job descriptions for individuals who might be eligible for Teaching Professor title as well as what would distinguish this title from other instructional titles as well as from faculty. She also reported that she has been working on two appeals simultaneously this fall. This is the first time the committee is handling two cases at the same time since she has been Secretary. The Shared Governance Reception was well received. Approximately 100 people attended the reception.
Guests: Marsha Mailick, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education and Nadine Connor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy and Compliance
Vice Chancellor Mailick discussed a proposal that Nadine Connor has been working on for a research professor title. The University Research Council seemed to be generally supportive of this idea. She believes it would be good for recruitment and retention.
The draft as written wouldn’t allow teaching or service. Those in the title would expect to have independence and leadership of their research by the time they reach the Associate level. This would allow the number of PIs on campus to expand and could increase funding levels. Grant reviewers often question the scientist title and what it means. There are a number of other institutions that use this title including Michigan, Washington, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, and Duke. The title would not give them Permanent PI status. They would need to have some 101 effort available (perhaps 5%) to write grants.
Candidates in this title would need to have a terminal degree, an impressive record of published research and evidence of management and completion of previous research, potential for acquisition of extramural funding, evidence of participation in professional meetings, and potential for scholarly development toward independence. Academic staff with the Assistant Research Professor title would have a mentoring committee that would assist them through promotion to the Associate Research Professor.
Guest: Michael Bernard-Donals, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff
Michael Bernard-Donals shared that the information about this year’s compensation programs was released. There is language in the memo for the Discretionary Compensation Fund that directs units/departments to provide information to staff who inquire why they are not receiving an adjustment. Schools/Colleges/Divisions spent as much last year as was provided centrally for DCF pay adjustments. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of funds were provided for equity or compression issues. Due to the upcoming pay plan, this year’s increases will need to be set in March.
The Hostile and Intimidating Behavior website is live. Michael is working on adding information about the liaisons to the website. Once that is set, there will be a letter from the Provost announcing the new website. The curriculum is being piloted this fall. ASEC will be invited to a pilot in the next month or so. They may also pilot some sessions in School of Human Ecology and Facilities Planning and Management. ASEC requested that Michael add pilots for other shared governance groups such as the Committee on Women in the University.
Michael asked ASEC to think about how to hire more diverse staff. This isn’t something that has been a focus on this campus, but could become a focus in the future.
Business
• Preparation for October Assembly Meeting
Bruno Browning agreed to make the motion for the business item at the Assembly on Monday.
• Topics for Chancellor
Board of Regents proposals
Role of shared governance in diversity and inclusion in school/college/division
Meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Academic Staff
ASEC Minutes
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, October 5, 2017
53 Bascom Hall
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, October 5, 2017
53 Bascom Hall
Members Present: Bruno Browning; Aaron Crandall; Jenny Dahlberg; Kevin Niemi, chair; Jim Rogers; Lindsey Stoddard Cameron
Guests: Michael Bernard-Donals, Nadine Connor, Jackie Hank, Marsha Mailick, Jake Smith, Megan Spurgeon
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.
The minutes of September 28, 2017, were approved.
General Reports
ASEC Chair Kevin Niemi reported he met with the chair of the University Committee, Anja Wanner. They discussed the Board of Regents resolutions and the report about Faculty Assistants at the Faculty Senate. Also there are two pending bills in the state legislature on fetal tissue research.
Secretary of the Academic Staff Heather Daniels reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Instructional Titles met for the first time. There was a lot of interest expressed in seeing job descriptions for individuals who might be eligible for Teaching Professor title as well as what would distinguish this title from other instructional titles as well as from faculty. She also reported that she has been working on two appeals simultaneously this fall. This is the first time the committee is handling two cases at the same time since she has been Secretary. The Shared Governance Reception was well received. Approximately 100 people attended the reception.
Guests: Marsha Mailick, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education and Nadine Connor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy and Compliance
Vice Chancellor Mailick discussed a proposal that Nadine Connor has been working on for a research professor title. The University Research Council seemed to be generally supportive of this idea. She believes it would be good for recruitment and retention.
The draft as written wouldn’t allow teaching or service. Those in the title would expect to have independence and leadership of their research by the time they reach the Associate level. This would allow the number of PIs on campus to expand and could increase funding levels. Grant reviewers often question the scientist title and what it means. There are a number of other institutions that use this title including Michigan, Washington, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, and Duke. The title would not give them Permanent PI status. They would need to have some 101 effort available (perhaps 5%) to write grants.
Candidates in this title would need to have a terminal degree, an impressive record of published research and evidence of management and completion of previous research, potential for acquisition of extramural funding, evidence of participation in professional meetings, and potential for scholarly development toward independence. Academic staff with the Assistant Research Professor title would have a mentoring committee that would assist them through promotion to the Associate Research Professor.
Guest: Michael Bernard-Donals, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff
Michael Bernard-Donals shared that the information about this year’s compensation programs was released. There is language in the memo for the Discretionary Compensation Fund that directs units/departments to provide information to staff who inquire why they are not receiving an adjustment. Schools/Colleges/Divisions spent as much last year as was provided centrally for DCF pay adjustments. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of funds were provided for equity or compression issues. Due to the upcoming pay plan, this year’s increases will need to be set in March.
The Hostile and Intimidating Behavior website is live. Michael is working on adding information about the liaisons to the website. Once that is set, there will be a letter from the Provost announcing the new website. The curriculum is being piloted this fall. ASEC will be invited to a pilot in the next month or so. They may also pilot some sessions in School of Human Ecology and Facilities Planning and Management. ASEC requested that Michael add pilots for other shared governance groups such as the Committee on Women in the University.
Michael asked ASEC to think about how to hire more diverse staff. This isn’t something that has been a focus on this campus, but could become a focus in the future.
Business
• Preparation for October Assembly Meeting
Bruno Browning agreed to make the motion for the business item at the Assembly on Monday.
• Topics for Chancellor
Board of Regents proposals
Role of shared governance in diversity and inclusion in school/college/division
Meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Academic Staff