Archive for the ‘Shared governance’ Category

The other shoe drops: UC Ad Hoc Committee report on the research enterprise.

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

As reported here and elsewhere,  the Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC) Ad Hoc Committee on the Research Enterprise already released its report back on January 22.

We had been waiting with bated breath for the counterpart committee appointed by the faculty’s University Committee (UC) to release its own findings on the same issue.  This report was originally due by the end of 2009, but this deadline could not be met.

The following message has just now  (2:50 pm today) been broadcast by the University Committee: (more…)

Posted in Graduate School, Restructuring proposal, Shared governance, The UW-Madison Campus | No Comments »

The Chronicle mentions ASEC report on restructuring – and a reader replies.

Monday, January 25th, 2010

The Chronicle of Higher Education made brief mention of the Capital Times article on the report from the Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC) Ad Hoc committee on the Research Enterprise.  (Unfortunately, the Chronicle misattributed the report to the faculty, which has not yet issued its report on the same subject.)

Of greater interest than the Chronicle posting itself is one reader’s response, a short excerpt of which follows:

The real story here is not the restructuring of research supporting systems but the broader issue of disintegrating research administration infrastructures at Wisconsin, and indeed across the United States. Offices that manage sponsored programs (grants, contracts, research fellowships, etc.) universally have had flat budgets for the past decade, and yet this period saw an unprecedented growth in research funding (e.g., doubling of NIH grants) as well as a torrent of new regulatory requirements governing all aspects of research (electronic submission of proposals, research subjects, animal care, conflict of interest, export controls, accounting, reporting, auditing, technology transfer, etc.).

(continue reading comments)

From our vantage point at S&W at least, this is indeed a new perspective on the restructuring issue.   We hope more  readers will weigh in.

Posted in Restructuring proposal, Shared governance, State-University Relations, The UW-Madison Campus, The University Budget | No Comments »

The Academic Staff report on Graduate School restructuring

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

The first shoe has dropped.   The Academic  Staff Ad Hoc Committee on the Research Enterprise has returned its white paper.   Their charge was “[t]o assess whether the present UW-Madison Research Enterprise structure is capable of addressing current and future issues, or whether an alternative organizational structure such as that proposed by the Chancellor and the Provost is needed.”

Their unambiguous conclusions:  “yes” to the first question, and “no” to the second. (more…)

Posted in Restructuring proposal, Shared governance, The UW-Madison Campus | No Comments »

Encouraging signs concerning the Graduate School restructuring process

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Many of us have been waiting with bated breath for (a) the reports of the faculty and academic staff ad hoc committees on Provost Paul DeLuca’s proposal to divest the Graduate School of research functions, and (b) the administration’s response to those reports.

The reports were originally due at the end of last month.  The Badger Herald now reports that the due dates have been pushed back to January 21 in the case of the ASEC report and to the end of the month for the University Committee report. (more…)

Posted in Graduate School, Restructuring proposal, Shared governance, The UW-Madison Campus, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Stepping up to protect free speech on campus

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Just days ago, this forum reposted a message that had been circulated by the AAUP concerning loopholes in the legal protection of speech on campus due to a controversial Supreme Court ruling in 2006.

Today, in the article “Free speech constraints spark criticism, concern”, the Daily Cardinal has reported that  Prof. Donald Downs (Political Science) is taking up that issue with our University Committee. That article, and the background information from the AAUP, is essential reading for anyone who might ever disagree with an administration decision.

(more…)

Posted in Academic freedom, Graduate School, Shared governance, The UW-Madison Campus | No Comments »

Letter from the Provost concerning restructuring

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

The following broadcast message from Provost Paul M. DeLuca, Jr., was received on November 11, 2009 and is reposted here for the convenience of S&W readers (a similar or identical message also appears on the Provost’s own website).  Public comments are strongly encouraged. – Eds.

November 11, 2009

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students:

As you know, we have been reaching out to get your views into the challenges that confront us as a research and learning community. A potential realignment of our research infrastructure has, not surprisingly, resonated in different ways with many of you. I write today to let you know that your comments and concerns will be important factors in any change that may be implemented. The strength of our university is derived primarily from the creativity and hard work of our faculty, staff and students. Without your efforts and inspiration, UW-Madison would not be the great university it is, and thus any substantive change to our research apparatus will occur only through the combined efforts of the campus community. (more…)

Posted in Graduate School, Restructuring proposal, Shared governance, The UW-Madison Campus | 2 Comments »

Speak Up! Speak Out! Protect the Faculty Voice

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

The following broadcast message was sent out by the American Association of University Professors to its membership on November 10, 2009. It is reprinted in its entirety here for the convenience of S&W readers. – Eds.

The right of faculty members at public colleges and universities to speak freely without fear of retribution is endangered as never before.

In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government can restrict the speech of public employees when they comment on issues related to their “official duties.” Although the decision specifically set aside academic speech, recognizing that additional constitutional interests were at stake, several lower courts have ruled recently that faculty members who speak out on matters affecting their institutions are not protected under the First Amendment. (more…)

Posted in Academic freedom, Shared governance | No Comments »