ASEC appointment requirement approved

Members of the Academic Staff Executive Committee will be required to have at least 50 percent appointments under a resolution passed by the Academic Staff Assembly May 13.

ASEC is the executive committee of the assembly and oversees the day-to-day administration of the assembly and the academic staff at large. Members of UW–Madison’s academic staff elect nine ASEC members to staggered three-year terms.

The measure was approved 39-17.

The assembly narrowly rejected a similar measure that would have required members of standing assembly committees to have an appointment of one-third time or more, which means a minimum of 33 percent appointments for nine-month employees and 27 percent for 12-month employees. The motion would have affected the Compensation and Economic Benefits, Districting and Representation, Nominating, Personnel Polices and Procedures, and Professional Development and Recognition Committees. The measure would have also applied to academic staff members that serve on governance committees with faculty members. The motion failed 27-30.7 Supporters of both resolutions had expressed concern that those with smaller appointment percentages are forced to fulfill their committee duties during unpaid, personal time. They also questioned whether someone with smaller percentage appointments can adequately represent the concerns of full-time employees.

Opponents contended that limiting who could participate would exclude qualified people from the shared governance process.

The new limits on ASEC members take effect immediately, however the limits do not affect the status of any current ASEC members.