AGENDA
University Staff Senate
January 14, 2016
Northwoods Room, MSC
2:00pm – 3:30pm
I.
Call to Order by Chair Entzminger
II.
Approve Agenda
A. Entzminger motioned, Stone 2nd, approved by consensus
III.
Approve December 8, 2015 minutes – posted to SharePoint and attached
A. Entzminger motioned, Wahl 2nd, approved by consensus
IV.
Discuss Grievance Procedure Updates
A. HR received information from system legal on the discipline portion, took out pre-file step for discipline
related grievances; revision approval date added; wording simplified and description added to clarify
what ‘disciplinary action’ means.
B. Vote on changes: Entzminger motioned to approve the updates; Verbal affirmative vote, no abstentions,
no nays
V.
Discuss Compensation Policy and University Staff Performance Evaluation Form
A. Compensation Policy Discussion:
i. Longsdorf: grammatical correction suggested in 2.C.1
ii. Salary Adjustment Form: Wahl lead discussion - single form for all staff; only one choice for
salary adjustment type; much of the form speaks to unclassified staff; Entzminger will send form
link to University Staff Senate. Anyone can request a salary adjustment, a compensation
analysis/pay equity study with salary and seniority data for all Stout employees in the same title
must be included with request.
iii. Update of system re-titling committee from Wahl: the formation of the committee is delayed;
timeline is three years.
iv. Entzminger motioned to approve compensation policy and salary adjustment form, Boyette 2nd;
Verbal affirmative vote, no abstentions, no nays
B. University Staff Performance Evaluation Form:
i. Revisiting the idea to revise the form; Personnel and Compensation Subcommittee will review
form and make recommendations
VI.
Senate Budget and Release Time Proposal
A. Entzminger reported: Senate of Academic Staff and Faculty Senate have about $1,500 annual budget;
willingness to share, but may not be enough. Wahl – should we discuss with Linda Borofka in the Senate
Office? Entzminger – yes, Linda is okay supporting USS budget. USS consensus to make a request for
budget beginning in fiscal year 17. Release time – Faculty Senate chair gets release time, Senate of
Academic Staff chair gets backfill budget for LTE. Entzminger estimates he spends at least 10
hours/week on Senate work. Three options: release time (not sure how with hourly pay), stipend or
hiring of LTE to help with chair’s other job duties. Decision to take closer look at how these are used by
other senate chairs and what other university staff at other UWs are doing, Entzminger will ask Linda
Borofka and email the system university staff senate list serve.
VII.
Charge Standing Subcommittees to Develop Bylaws
A. Executive Board would like each standing subcommittee to create a set of bylaws. This will help to clarify
information used for elections. These do not need to be as detailed as the full Senate bylaws; i.e.
membership, processes in place, etc. Please provide to Senate Secretary to Julie Zack by February 9,
2016.
VIII.
Progress on Safety Shoe Recommendations
A. System conducted survey of UWs on current practices, most still doing $30 annual reimbursement; HR
suggests an Administrative Policy be drafted (covers all employees) regarding safety shoes; Wahl
suggests USS recommends that the Safety Committee draft the policy since they are more familiar with
these details and process; Janiak will take this recommendation to the Safety Committee. Entzminger
will send a memo to the Safety Committee.
IX.
Discuss Compensation Philosophy
A. Asst. Chancellor Meridith Drzakowski and Faculty Senate Chair Nelu Ghenciu drafted a philosophy and
brought it to the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) for review. The draft philosophy is a commitment to
bring unclassified staff up to 80% CUPA when funds are available. Senate Chairs met with Drzakowski
and said that merit has to be a part of this philosophy, this has been added to be the #1 consideration,
then equitable pay will be determined. Continued discussion on the best way to determine merit since
it’s so subjective.
X.
Reminder of Call for Nominations
A. Call for nominations will be coming out in a couple of weeks. We have 60+ university staff openings for
committee and Senate spots.
i. Boyette has an email draft in SharePoint for Senate review; nomination call going out 2/8/16
ii. Voting launch date is 3/7/16
B. Discuss Inclusion of Craftworkers in Senate Representation
i. Previously, craftworkers have been excluded because they are union represented, should we
add them? Senate consensus to include craftworkers moving forward.
XI.
Sub-Committees: Reports
A. Bylaws
i. Krahn: HR ex-officio representation in bylaws – Wahl/Entzminger table until further information
is received on what ex-officio does
ii. Aligning with other Senates, edited wording in Article VI, Elections, to say ‘in conjunction with
Senate Office’
iii. Article VII, Executive Board: update that terms will start June 1st.
iv. Updates are needed to standing committee wording due to changes in election process
B. Personnel and Compensation
i. Discussed in above items
C. Awards and Development
i. Met with Cally Henderson from Human Resources regarding existing orientation provided to
new university staff employees as a first step in recommendation for new employee cohort
program.
D. Election Committee
i. Discussed in above items
XII.
Informational
A. Strategic Planning Group and Chancellor’s Advisory Council meeting minutes can be obtained through the
Informational Portal.
B. Next USS meeting 2-9-16, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., MSC Northwoods
C. UW-System Shared Governance Meeting, Jan. 29th, 9:00am – 2:00pm, Pyle Center, Madison
XIII.
Adjournment
A. Entzminger moved to adjourn, Smith 2nd the motion, approved by consensus
Excused Absences: Josh Schram, Toni Simons