Academic Staff Assembly opposes changes to governance, tenure

UW-Madison’s Academic Staff Assembly passed a resolution Wednesday opposing proposed legislative changes to shared governance, academic staff appointments and tenure.

The motion read, in part:

“Therefore be it resolved, the Academic Staff Assembly of the University of Wisconsin–Madison calls on the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance to strike items 12 and 34-40 in the UW System Omnibus Motion #521.

“Therefore be it further resolved, the Academic Staff Assembly of the University of Wisconsin–Madison calls on UW System President Ray Cross, the Board of Regents, and Chancellor Rebecca Blank to use all means at their disposal to call on the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance to strike items 12 and 34-40 in the UW System Omnibus Motion #521.”

A similar resolution had been passed earlier by the Faculty Senate, asking to remove from the state budget language relating to tenure, shared governance and other non-fiscal matters.

“Your active engagement in shared governance activities shows your commitment to this university, and I want to thank you,” said Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf.

She went on to ask the academic staff for their continued support.

“There are so many things that have been hard for all of us to deal with,” Mangelsdorf said. “We really all need to stand together.”