University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Academic Staff Senate Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, April 8, 2003, Union E280
Present: Joseph Weitzer (ASC), Chair, Victoria Boswell (ASC), Pam Boulton (ASC), Kate Coffaro (L&S),
Helen Crain (NURS), Russell Cuhel (At-Large), James Dicker (ASC), Barbara Duffy (At-Large), Johanna
Dvorak (At-Large), Christine Furness (GRAD), Suzette Garay (EDUC), Tammy Howard (GEA), Roger
Hyttinen (IMT), TJ Jeske (At-Large), John Krezoski (At-Large), Tom McGinnity (At-Large), Jennifer
McKenzie-Flynn (ASC), Annie Melchior (ASC), Tom Moore (ASC), Chris Mullenbach (SCE), Janet
Padway (ASC), Maureen Powless (LIB), Jean Salzer (At-Large), Joan Smothers (CEAS), Susan
Stalewski (CHS), Wendy Volz-Daniels (SW), Gwyn Wallander (At-Large)
I.
The meeting was called to order at 2:36 p.m. by Joseph Weitzer, Chair.
II.
Approval of the minutes of February 11, 2003 and March 11, 2003 was deferred.
III.
Chair’s Report
A
Budget Update: There will be a town hall meeting on Friday, April 11, from 3:00-4:30
p.m. in the Golda Meir Library 4th floor conference room. At this meeting, the Chancellor,
the Provost, and university governance and administrative leadership groups will review
and discuss the proposed budget reduction contingency plan. The Chancellor will be
meeting with ASC on April 17, 2003 to give an update on potential academic staff
non-renewals/layoffs.
B.
Leadership Development Opportunity: The Collegiate Management Institute (CMI) will
be offered at UWM. The Provost is offering financial support of $625.00 per person for
up to 10 individuals. Submit requests for support to Sona Andrews. You can find more
information about this opportunity at http://www.adpc.purdue.edu/CMI/.
C.
Request from Milwaukee Committee Review Committee: A. Hightower requested the
names of two individuals to serve on the Milwaukee Commitment Advisory Panel. Chair
asked that Senators forward the names of any constituents who may be interested in
serving to him as soon as possible.
D.
Other: R. Cuhel requested an update on the status of the report produced by the
Category B Subcommittee in response to the IRAS Report. Chair responded that the
report had been forwarded to Provost Wanat and also to the University Committee for
additional endorsement.
IV.
Special Guests
A.
ShaRon Williams, Human Resources Personnel Director (3:00 PM): S. Williams joined
the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
1.
She thanked the ASC for their efforts in developing suggestions which she
shared with the Human Resources Staff.
2.
HR has created separation packets and shared them with UBR’s to be provided
to persons at the time they are notified on non-renewal.
3.
UWM currently has 6 in-house EAP coordinators. HR is exploring contracting
out services. Committee met yesterday and identified vendors. HR will
announce in the next few weeks the new EAP service/vendor. Discussion
followed.
4.
Discussion of budget and the number of positions that must be eliminated (89).
5.
Discussion of services that could be provided to those staff non-renewed due to
budget include: Career Counseling through the Career Development Center
(this is only available to UWM Alumni); Career Transitioning–S. Williams will
discuss this issue with the Personnel Reps; Training for “survivors” including how
to manage with less resources–HR is exploring opportunities; Job fairs–The
number of positions to be eliminated would not be high enough to attract other
employers. The Senate also asked that HR investigate the possibility of
developing networks with other institutions.
V.
Old Business
A.
Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures: The Senate began reviewing and
editing Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures including the following:
•101.02: under Definitions: Communication add [excluding email].
•103.01: under the third bullet remove [may be].
•104: Add [UWM] to chapter title so it reads UWM Chapter 104 ACADEMIC STAFF
APPOINTMENTS.
•104.04: Discussion ensued regarding clarity of the third sentence.
•104.06: Last sentence of last full paragraph should read: [If a significant change in the
existing conditions of the appointment occurs during the appointment period these
conditions should be specified in writing at least ten working days prior to the change.]
•Chapter 105: Add a page break before [UWM Chapter 105 PERFORMANCE
REVIEW].
The Senate will continue the review of the Academic Staff Personnel Policies and
Procedures at the next meeting starting with Chapter 105.
VI.
Committee Reports
A.
Standing Committees
1.
Awards Committee (Chair: T.J. Jeske): The Committee will be meeting on April
9 to select winners of the 2003 UWM Academic Staff Outstanding Performance
and Outstanding Teaching Awards. The applicant pool is very strong. The
deadline for the 2003 UWM Academic Staff Distinguished University Service
Award was April 7, 2003. The applicant pool for this award is also very strong.
Discussion ensued.
2.
Codification Committee (Chair: Karen Jander): None.
3.
Hearing & Appeals Committee (Chair: Pat Touchett): None.
4.
Nominations Committee (Chair: Sarine Schmidt): The ballot will be distributed
later in the month. The Voter’s Guide will be available only on the web.
5.
Non-teaching Academic Staff Review Committee (Chair: Paul Gunderson):
None.
6.
Teaching Academic Staff Review Committee (Chair: Stephen Nelson-Raney):
None.
B.
Subcommittees
1.
Category A (Chair: John Bowden): None.
2.
Category B (Chair: RussellCuhel/Sherri Sieff): None.
3.
Campus Climate (Co-Chair: Linda Czernicki/Joanne Barndt): None.
4.
Economic Benefits (Chair: Judy Panich): The committee has been looking at
parking issues. They have also been following the state health insurance
planing of the benefit fair in October. The committee also informed the senate
that academic staff members may, under the catastrophic medical leave
program, voluntarily donate their unused vacation, personal and floating holidays,
and “banked” leave to peers who have exhausted all their paid leave, but require
additional time off for medical reasons. Please see
www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/leave/catast.htm for more information.
5.
Legislative (Chair: Matt Sirinek-Jim Dicker reporting): Two meetings with
legislators are scheduled for April 11 and April 14.
6.
Mentoring (Pauli Taylor-Boyd): None.
7.
Orientation (Chair: Joanne Barndt): The committee continues to conduct
orientation presentation.
8.
Public Relations (Chair: Tammy Howard): Revisions continue on the Academic
Staff Handbook.
VII.
Announcements: None.
VIII.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.