Meeting Minutes

April 16, 2007

Members present: Alicia Acken Cosgrove, Kevin Bertelsen, Brad Gee, Mark Kinders, Gretchen Link, Jason Neuhaus, Cara Rubis, Travis Tubré

Members absent: Carmen Croonquist, Sarah Egerstrom, Kimberly Gould-Speckman

Call to order: 2:03 p.m.

Approval of 3/19/07 minutes: Moved by Neuhaus. Seconded by Link. Unanimously approved.

Chair's Report (C. Rubis):
Elections Update: An eighth academic staff member is being sought for the ballot for the upcoming Academic Staff Council election in May.
University Planning Group: Additional faculty will be added to the University Planning Group that will be monitoring and directing the UWRF strategic plan as it moves forward.
NCA Accreditation: The second revision of the NCA Self-Study is now available for review at: www.uwrf.edu/nca.

Representative's Report:
Minutes of the 4/5/2007 meeting of Academic Staff Representatives are attached.

Legislative Update (M. Kinders):
Provost Hurt recently testified before the Joint Finance Committee on behalf of UWRF academic staff and faculty. Also, during UW Spirit Day on Wednesday, April 18, representatives from UWRF will visit legislators and lobby for the Growth Agenda, funding for a new Health and Human Performance facility, the pay plan, and the First-Year Experience program. Chancellor Betz will also appear before the Joint Finance Committee on April 18th and will promote the HHP facility.

New Business:
Workplace Violence Policy (Neuhaus): The Committee on Workplace Violence is developing a new policy using the UW-La Crosse policy as a model. Neuhaus will bring the new policy to the next meeting or send it to the council members by email.

Continuing Business:
Collective Bargaining Discussion/Resolution: After discussion of the appropriate time for expressing approval or disapproval of the resolution, council members agreed with Kinders' contention that, in order to influence how the budget bill will be drafted, the best time to vote on it would be at this meeting. A motion was made by Neuhaus and seconded by Link to adopt the resolution with the following changes:
- In sections beginning with "Whereas…," remove and, where appropriate, replace references to Section 2681 with "the budget bill."
- In the section beginning "Therefore be it resolved…," replace "Section 2681" with "the language regarding collective bargaining for academic staff."
- Correct the spelling of President Reilly's name.
Motion was unanimously approved.

Handbook Updates:
Sections 3 & 4 (Croonquist)
Only renumbering is necessary.

Section 6 (Acken Cosgrove)
No updates necessary.

Sections 7 & 8 (Link)
Recommendation to leave language as is regarding indefinite appointments, etc. until Egerstrom can clarify whether this is permitted as a condition of employment at the UW System level.

Section 13 (Neuhaus)
In addition to renumbering the section, the following wording change was proposed and unanimously approved:
- Add to the end of section 13.6 University Equipment and Services: "except for those purposes that are permissible under UWRF policies." Moved by Bertelsen. Seconded by Neuhaus.

Entire text of Chapter VI
- Change all instances of "unclassified staff" to "academic staff." Moved by Neuhaus. Seconded by Link.
- Change all instances of "council" to "Academic Staff Council." Moved by Kinders. Seconded by Neuhaus.
Both motions unanimously approved.

Section 14 (Gee)
Further discussion is needed with other stakeholders (Provost, Faculty Senate Chair) in order to clarify ambiguous wording regarding appointment/renewal/non-renewal of academic staff for teaching positions. Gee will contact Provost Hurt for guidance.

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made by Link. Seconded by Rubis. Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.