Academic Staff Council Minutes

November 14, 2001

Call to order at 3:00 p.m..

Approval of October minutes.

Members present:  Marilyn Duerst, Emily Ronning, Larry Testa, Sue Walton, Steve Luebke, Kathy Olsen, Ranee May, and Michael Stifter.  Guests present:  Leslie Bleskachek, Tony Bredahl, Sandy Soares, and Mark Kinders.

Representatives Report (Tony Bredahl reporting): 

• Distributed a sheet identifying four issues for UWRF Academic Staff that was to be taken to the next reps meeting on 11/15/01 in Madison.  The four issues were Titling, Ideas on integrating non-tenure instructional staff into departments, Campus position on awarding emeriti status to academic staff, and UWRF pay plan distribution info.

New Business

• Merger with Faculty Senate:  Kathy introduced Sandy who was invited to explain her role in creating the new faculty/academic staff constitution.  Clarification that the term faculty has generally included academic staff, but for purposes of clarity, it was delineated in the constitution.  Sandy distributed a handout that highlighted the substantive changes for the proposed constitution.  An additional change needed to occur in Article VI, p. 6 adding a C class.  Clarification that an Academic Staff person can be elected chair.  Clarification that the language of 55-45 (faculty to academic staff) may need to be added, but that the proposed 17:1 ratio currently supersedes any other makeup of the new senate.  Addition to Article III, Section A should read “faculty and academic staff,” as shall Article IV, Section C, 5b in lines 2 and 5.  Kathy suggested a review period of 3-5 years at which point Tony pointed out that Academic Staff can choose their own form of governance meaning that at any point they can pull out of the new senate.  There was general optimism towards the proposal as it was pointed out that trust and good will was intended.  It was further added that ratification here was the smaller of the two issues as the development of the by-laws will be larger.  Motion by May, Second by Duerst, unanimous vote.

Old Business

• Five Year and Out:  amendment was approved in Madison with one slight change:  “Academic Staff” language replaced “. . . coaching.”
• Web Page information was circulated.  Members are encouraged to review the page.  Stifter collected term information of all members to be added to the page.

Other Business

·        Question asked as to whether salary letters went out yet.  The answer was no.

·        Bredahl mentioned that nominations were due soon for the System Wide Academic Staff Award.  Information was given to May.  Ideas for nominations should be given to her.

Adjournment at 4:12 p.m..

Next Meeting is Wednesday, 12/12 at 3 p.m. in the Kinnikinnic Room of the Student Center.