CLASSIFIED STAFF SENATE
PROPOSALS FOR BUDGET REDUCTION
We hope that the University will continue to seek in keeping operations in house and will
avoid the outsourcing of any positions. We believe that the disadvantages of outsourcing
would outweigh any cost savings. Some of the disadvantages that we see are:
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Possible loss of control over a company's business processes
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Problems related to quality and turnaround time
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Sluggish response times coupled with slow issue resolutions
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Shortcomings in performance vis-à-vis expectations
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Lower than expected realization of benefits and results
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Risk of exposing confidential data
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Hidden costs: Although outsourcing most of the time is cost-effective at times
there are hidden cost involved
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Lack of focus from outsourced staff
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Loss of pride and morale from staff due to feeling threatened of other areas
losing their jobs due to outsourcing at UW-Platteville
We feel there are other ways to solve the budget crisis before choosing outsourcing, such as:
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Reviewing all vacant positions vigorously and only those positions deemed highly
essential are filled during this uncertain time. We would hope that this process is
transparent and if a position is deemed essential that clear justification is given prior
to the position being filled.
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Examine what administration positions we can combine with other campuses.
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When Classified Staff, Academic Staff, Faculty, or Administration retire; but are then
rehired in a similar role; clear justification should be given for their return to justify
why hiring new staff at a lower salary was not the solution prior to the retired staff
members return.
We do not believe that this is the time to increase pay for Faculty. Increasing faculty
salaries to be more competitive should wait until we are in a better position financially.
While we are very supportive of the need to improve salaries to attract the best instructors
for our students, we also recognize the need to increase salaries for Academic and Classified
Staff to keep and recruit quality employees in these areas as well.
Future cost saving recommendations:
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Consider extending replacement of computers from four-year cycle to five-year
cycle.
1 University Plaza | Platteville WI 53818-3099 | www.uwplatt.edu/classified-staff-senate | csenate@uwplatt.edu
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Review reducing the number of printers so there is one per department rather
than one per office.
Utilize UW-Platteville Printing Office more; look at reducing the number of
copiers across campus.
Make sure additional lab fees charged to students fully recover the cost of these
labs to the University. Examine where other additional course or lab fees can
be added.
Reduce the number of general-purpose computer labs across campus. While
certain courses require dedicated computers with specific software, most
students have laptops or other computer equipment.
Utilize used furniture across campus as long as it is functional. Sometimes
furniture is still fully functional but replaced with new. We suggest when
replacement is required, verify if there is anything available in surplus, or
replace with lower cost items. Also in this area, make it easier for departments
to gain access to surplus items. Some areas on campus are reporting they have
had a difficult time trying to get items from the surplus supply.
At the beginning of the fiscal year when the budget is loaded, we suggest each
102 and 402 account has an immediate entry reducing the supply line by 5%.
That way the original budget amount is maintained for future years, but
reduced each fiscal year as needed. If each 102 and 402 supply line is reduced
by 5%, every department can decide which items they can cut and still carry out
the responsibilities of their area.
Consider a freeze on sabbaticals for the biennium due to the increased
additional cost of hiring replacement faculty.
Suspend the Chancellor’s Holiday luncheon, at least during this biennium.
Freeze Internal Grants for the next two years. We recognize the need for
professional development and research, but encourage accomplishing these
goals through external grants that bring money into the university.
Freeze Startup funds for new faculty for the next two years.
Resources are wasted by students who enroll in classes that they intend to drop
within the first 10 days. Reduce this waste by increasing the drop fee OR by
charging additional tuition for enrolling in over 15 credits per semester rather
than the current maximum of 18.
Continue to examine cost recovery and maximize efficiencies in fleet vehicle
operations.
Consider Chancellor paying for utilities for his house; i.e.-cable, internet.
Consider an increase in the graduation fee.
Before approving travel, verify if other means are available for attending such
as teleconferencing/video conferencing. The University should only pay
1 University Plaza | Platteville WI 53818-3099 | www.uwplatt.edu/classified-staff-senate | csenate@uwplatt.edu
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expenses for approved university staff and not for family members or others
who may go along on the trip.
We would encourage the concept of early retirement incentives.
Other recommendations and thoughts:
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At this time, we do not have enough information to give a recommendation for
the DLC, but we suggest carefully evaluating increases to tuition, this could
cause potential student loss. We would like to see careful consideration with
any new programs being added to the DLC so that it doesn’t impact the staff in
their department or the rest of campus.
We strongly support the Academic Planning Council’s review of programming
to ensure that the majors and programs being offered at UW-Platteville are at
least cost neutral if not revenue producing.
We support examining low enrollment classes each semester to justify them
being offered that semester.
Carefully evaluate if we are receiving an adequate return on our investment on
sustainability programs.
We strongly support the PACCE program and feel significant cuts to PACCE is
not advisable. This program is part of our mission and vision “We promote
excellence by using a personal, hands-on approach to empower each student to
become broader in perspective, intellectually more astute, ethically more
responsible, and to contribute wisely as an accomplished professional and
knowledgeable citizen in a diverse global community.” “UW-Platteville will be
recognized as the leading student-focused university for its success in achieving
excellence, creating opportunities, and empowering each individual” .PACCCE
encourages this mission and vision.
Respectfully submitted by the Classified Staff Senate
1 University Plaza | Platteville WI 53818-3099 | www.uwplatt.edu/classified-staff-senate | csenate@uwplatt.edu