Report to the Stout Foundation Board

Following is the report I gave at the Stout Foundation Board meeting this morning:

Thank you for allowing me to have a few minutes with you. The Senate of Academic Staff is again very active this year supporting the mission of the University.

A few of the issues we have been working on in the senate include:

• Hiring Deans. With realignment of the colleges behind us, we are anxiously looking forward to assisting with the process of hiring the new deans.
• Celebration Planning. Our senate is co-sponsoring a One Year Anniversary of the Polytechnic Designation celebration on March 11 and if any of you are in town we hope you will join us!
• Pay/Compensation. The possibility of a proposal from the Governor which would give a salary increase to some but not all academic staff – our senate is trying to get the politicians and UW System to treat us all equally and fairly
• Bylaws. Changing our bylaws to reflect the new colleges
• University Marshall. Developing guidelines for the Academic Staff Marshall at graduation

Thanks!

Dennis Shaw, Chair
Senate of Academic Staff

Chair’s Report for 2-12-08 Meeting

Greetings! Here we are starting another semester and it continues to be a busy time for our senate. So, without further ado, following are reports on meetings I attended since my December report:

December 17, Chancellor’s Advisory Council Meeting. We started out the meeting discussing the GPR/Non-GPR Allocation Recommendations for 2008-2009. We next discussed the IPEDS Data Feedback Report. The IPEDS feedback report is intended to provide institutions a context for examining the data they submitted to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Next, Doug Mell described the campus process when the Chancellor decides it is necessary to cancel classes due to severe weather conditions. Finally, Chad Johnson commented that several of the students expressed some concern with the recent television ads. Dave Williams reported that the marketing group will work with the students on these issues.

December 21, Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) Board teleconference. ASPRO Lobbyist Swandby reviewed the pay plan recommendations for all UW academic staff and faculty made by the Office of State Employee Relations (OSER) and approved by Joint Committee on Employee Relations (JCOER). ASPRO President Steffenhagen attended the hearing and Committee vote and told the Board members of the comments made to the Committee by the Director of OSER regarding a return to the Committee in December for a supplemental pay plan recommendation for faculty and research and instructional academic staff. There was discussion regarding the timing of a JCOER or JFC meeting on the subject. There was a rumor that JCOER would hold a hearing on supplemental pay plan issues in January. There was also discussion regarding whether this issue helped the unionization argument.

Swandby then reviewed the timeline of introduction, hearing notice and the holding of a public hearing on Senate Bill 353, the UW collective bargaining bill introduced by Senator Hansen and Representative Richards. Swandby reviewed the progress on the separate website dedicated to collective bargaining. The name of the site has been chosen – www.isaunionforu.com.

January 14, Chancellor’s Advisory Council Meeting. Wayne Argo reviewed the changes to the sick leave accrual and reporting policies as passed by the Board of Regents. He will also be sending out an information memo on this to all unclassified employees. Jane Henderson next provided a review of the Title III Year 3 Evaluation progress on the goals, as well as information on areas for improvement and recommendations from the external evaluator. The funding for this grant will be finished in 2009. Meridith then reviewed the UW-Stout progress toward the four UW System goals in the accountability report. Next, our four AQIP action projects were reviewed by Janice Coker. These projects were identified during the Strategic Planning Group retreat in the summer of 2006 and discussed with the campus during the listening sessions: (1) Campus Climate/Culture: Improve the Effectiveness of Internal Communication; (2) Polytechnic Initiative; (3) Prepare Students for a Global Society and Workforce; and (4) Reach New Markets and Provide New Programs through Online Learning, Hybrid Courses and Programs, and Partnerships. Finally, Meridith provided a review of the ACT Alumni Outcomes Survey data.

January 17, Academic Staff Reps Council (ASRC) teleconference. Ron Singer, Al Crist, Grant Huber and Bob Jokisch from UW System Administration joined the teleconference at 10:30 following discussion among Academic Staff Representatives. The first item discussed was the Shared Governance Guidelines. Campus Governance Groups were asked to respond by February 15 on the request for endorsement of the Guidelines. Associate Vice President Al Crist next discussed HR issues with the Academic Staff Reps. The first item discussed was the response by President Reilly to the Academic Staff Reps on their concerns regarding campus compliance with UPG 3.05(3). The Academic Staff Reps had asked for a compliance audit at every UW System institution on this matter. After a lengthy discussion on this issue, Al Crist and Ron Singer reiterated President Reilly’s request that institutional governance groups first work with the Chancellor and campus administration regarding problems with UPG 3.05(3). Following institutional review, unresolved issues or questions should be brought to Associate Vice President Al Crist for his followup.

Al Crist next provided a further update on the Office of State employee Relations (OSER) Plan for Additional Compensation for UW faculty and academic staff. Al reminded the Council that President Reilly and Regent President Bradley have made the UW System position clear, that is, the UW System has asked for an additional pay plan increase for all unclassified staff. Al informed the Academic Staff Reps that OSER has been providing additional information to Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) members before the OSER proposal for additional compensation goes forward in a few weeks. Al noted that the OSER proposal may only address faculty and instructional and research academic staff. However, he is hopeful that there will be a commitment for additional market study of all unclassified staff for use for future pay plans. The Academic Staff Reps are considering sending a note to the Governor and OSER to express their concern about excluding some academic staff from the additional compensation. The Academic Staff Reps asked for further clarification on how they can respond to the Governor and OSER.

Grant Huber from the UWSA Communications & External Relations Team next provided an update on legislative issues. Senate Bill 353 on Collective Bargaining had a hearing in Eau Claire and was passed by the Higher Education Committee. The bill has also been introduced in the Assembly. On January 23, the Governor will give his State of the State speech, which will include his economic development proposal.

The Academic Staff Reps also requested further information on the policy for leave reporting. They asked for clarification on whether the leave reporting in half day increments affects all leave or just sick leave. (Al Crist later clarified that this is for all leave.)

Finally, Ron Singer noted that Rebecca Martin was unable to attend the teleconference because of a meeting today of the Provosts, Multicultural and Disadvantaged Coordinators, and Pre-College Directors on the future of UW System Diversity planning after Plan 2008. This issue will be brought to the Academic Staff Reps at a future meeting.

January 18, Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) Board teleconference. ASPRO Lobbyist Swandby stated that SB 353, the collective bargaining bill, had been referred to the Joint Committee on Finance. The fiscal note estimates the bill will cost the UW more than $2.2 million annually to implement. There was discussion regarding the isaunionforyou.com website and blog.

ASPRO President Steffenhagen reviewed his participation in a regional WPR call-in program the West Side with Mary Jo Wagner. Also on the program was a union representative from the University of Minnesota who provided some interesting stories about how collective bargaining works there.

ASRC Chair Carlson briefed the Board on the conversation from the Academic Staff System Representatives meeting the previous day. It was rumored that OSER may be getting close to recommending something to JCOER and that recommendation was to be a supplemental pay increase for faculty and research and instructional academic staff and a market study to research the need for an increase for the other academic staff. Swandby had sent a memo to members of JCOER outlining concerns with the supplemental pay plan for some, but not all, academic staff.

February 4, Chancellor’s Advisory Council Meeting. Laura Dunek, UW System Regent Records Policy Advisor, provided an information session on records management and retention, and responded to questions. Next, Vice Chancellor Moen and Meridith Wentz described the background on a request from a faculty member to conduct a survey on the campus tobacco use policy. CAC discussion included: what are we willing to do about violations; do we need a survey to understand the issues; would it be beneficial to remind the campus about the established policy and provide education on the guidelines. The Chancellor will charge Doug Mell to pull together a small group to look at an effective educational process to remind the campus about the policy. Donna Weber then provided a review of the unclassified recruitments report for 2006-07.

Other meeting I participated in representing the Senate of Academic Staff included:

• 12/6-7: Board of Regent’s meetings
• 12/10: Administrative Leadership Team Lunch
• 12/11: Met with Provost
• 12/12: Retention Steering Committee
• 12/14: Access to Learning Committee
• 12/20: Met with Chancellor
• 1/16: Retention Steering Committee
• 1/28: Met with Chancellor
• 2/1: Chancellor’s Coalition on Alcohol & Drugs
• 2/5: Meeting to plan one year anniversary of Polytechnic Designation

That's it or now. See you all Tuesday!

Dennis Shaw
2007-2008 Chair

ASRC opposes exclusion from additional compensation

Following is the resolution sent this week by the Academic Staff Representatives Council (ASRC):

Dear Director Donnelly and members of the Joint Committee on Employment Relations,

Attached is a resolution expressing the grave concern of the UW System Academic Staff Representatives Council over plans that would exclude "Category A" academic staff from an additional compensation package being considered for this biennium. Last week, this resolution was approved unanimously by the council, whose members represent academic staff governance groups from across the state. For your convenience, the text of the resolution also appears below.

Yours truly,
Dave Carlson
UW-Rock County
Chair, UW System Academic Staff Representatives Council

cc: Governor Jim Doyle
UW System President Kevin Reilly
David Giroux, UW System Communications and External Relations

- - - - -

Whereas the Wisconsin Office of State Employment Relations has communicated to University of Wisconsin System officials and others tentative plans to offer additional compensation beyond the pay plan for the 2007-2009 biennium to faculty and academic staff, but only Category B instructional and research academic staff, and

Whereas all academic staff in the University of Wisconsin System provide essential support for the university’s educational and research missions, and

Whereas the most recent data show that salaries across all categories of academic staff in the UW System lag behind salaries for their peers at other institutions of higher education by a much wider margin than that by which UW System faculty salaries lag behind their peers’ salaries, and

Whereas members of the UW System Academic Staff Representatives Council represent all categories of academic staff,

Be it therefore resolved that

The UW System Academic Staff Representatives Council is opposed to any plan that would exclude Category A academic staff from additional compensation offered in this biennium to other unclassified employees of the UW System.

WPR Radio show dealing with Collective Bargaining

In case you missed it there was an interesting radio show on local WPR. Here's the link in case you have not heard the show (The West Side with Mary Jo Wagner):

http://www.wpr.org/regions/eau/twsarchive.cfm

Click on:
January 14, 2008: The pros and cons of collective bargaining for UW system faculty and staff. A bill to allow it is in the State Senate. Guests include co-sponsor Senator Kathleen Vinehout; Russ Stanton is Director of Government Relations in Minnesota for the InterFaculty Organization (IFO) and he's a former lawmaker; Bill Steffenhagen is President of the Academic Staff Professionals Representation organization or ASPRO; Rick Richmond from UW-Eau Claire serves on the state board of the Association of UW Professionals or TAUWP.

Sen. Harsdorf's response to letter

And here is what Sen. Harsdorf sent me in response. I see that she did vote with us in opposition to the bill BUT unfortunately her's was the lone opposing vote in committee. Thanks for listening to us Sheila!!

Dear Dennis,

Thank you for your letter addressed to Senator Vinehout and committee members expressing your opposition to Senate Bill 353, the legislation allowing for collective bargaining for university faculty and academic staff. I appreciate you taking time to clarify the concerns held by you and academic staff at UW-Stout. As you may recall, I have similar concerns with this legislation and have not supported it.

Please be assured I will keep your concerns in mind when this legislation comes to a vote.

Sheila

Sen. Vinehout's response to letter

Here is what Sen. Vinehout said in response to my letter:

Dear Dennis,

Thanks for writing. I will add your letter to the permanent bill file that we are keeping on the faculty/academic staff collective bargaining issue - and I will keep a record of your opposition.

There is an option to combine bargaining units and we heard testimony at UW EC that would happen in Eau Claire. It does, I imagine, depend on the culture of the campus.

I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

Happy Holidays!
Kathleen Vinehout

Written Testimony on SB353

Dear Senator Vinehout and State Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education members,

My name is Dennis Shaw from Menomonie and I am employed in the Student Life Services Office at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University. I also have the honor of serving as the elected Chair of our Senate of Academic Staff, one of three governance groups on campus along with the Faculty Senate and Stout Student Association.

In addition, and for the record, I am also the Vice President of the Board of Directors for ASPRO, the Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization, which has 700 academic staff employee members statewide. Academic staff professionals are the partners of the faculty inside and outside of the classroom. Academic Staff employees are lecturers, librarians, advisors, researchers, counselors, financial aid professionals, information technology staff, and housing managers just to name a few of the roles we fill.

I understand that on Monday you held a public hearing on Senate Bill 353, “relating to collective bargaining process for University of Wisconsin System faculty and academic staff and making appropriations.” My duties at UW-Stout did not afford me the opportunity to testify in person, so I appreciate that you have agreed to take written comments during this week.

While our campus senate is out of session until the second semester, I am sure our body will be strongly opposed to the language in Senate Bill 353, so I am comfortable relaying a letter in opposition. I have attached a resolution from the UW-Stout Senate of Academic Staff that was passed unanimously in September opposing similar enabling language in the State Senate version of the state budget bill. Our concerns with the language in the budget bill have not been addressed with SB353.

The primary reason both our campus senate and the statewide ASPRO organization opposes this language is that it specifically mandates that the faculty and the academic staff collective bargaining units on each campus would start off being separate. As stated in our September resolution, “while the language in the senate bill does provide an option to combine units, however in reality there would be little incentive for faculty or large campus bargaining units to vote to support combining with them, setting up a system where campuses, faculty and staff would each be competing against each other for limited state dollars.”

This pitting of faculty against academic staff and campus against campus for limited resources is unhealthy both for the University of Wisconsin System and the state. I grew up in a good union home with my father serving as a Committeeman for Local 95 of the UAW in Janesville. I understand that the purpose of collective bargaining and that the larger the representation the more bargaining power a union has. For the life of me I cannot understand why the legislative authors would want to start with 25 to 30 separate weak bargaining units instead of having one large combined faculty & academic staff union.

As you can see in the BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED section of our September 2007 resolution, while the UW-Stout Senate of Academic Staff would not necessarily “be opposed to the right to choose to collectively bargain, we will continue to oppose any bill including collective bargaining bills that would separate faculty and academic staff pay and benefit plans and thereby treat the 11,000 academic staff in the UW System unfairly and inequitably.”

I therefore, speaking for the UW-Stout Senate of Academic Staff, encourage the committee to either amend the language that would require separate bargaining units or vote against Senate Bill 353 when the vote is called.

Thanks once again for the opportunity to provide comments!