On Thursday, April 7, UFAS-UWEC held its Spring General Membership Meeting. Members present debated and ultimately passed three resolutions regarding tenure, merit pay increases, and the University's patronage of companies who sponsor the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization that supports policies that undermine public funding of higher education. The resolutions passed are as follows:
On Tenure:
Whereas all academic success and progress depends upon intellectual freedom of speech,
whereas tenure was developed as a means to ensure that intellectual freedom of speech, by protecting the right of faculty members to be able to speak freely without fear of punitive retribution for unpopular statements,
and whereas academic institutions without effective tenure protection will become much less attractive to faculty, thereby making those institutions uncompetitive in attracting and retaining the faculty necessary to accomplish the institution's mission of education,
be it resolved that the UW Eau Claire United Faculty and Academic Staff oppose any post-tenure review policy that could result in loss of employment.
On Merit Pay:
Whereas pay inequities based upon discipline or department are divisive, damaging to the esprit de corps and function of the university, and to the morale and job satisfaction of those employed in lower-paid departments, and
whereas the current system of awarding merit pay increases is calculated by applying percentage adjustments to base salaries, it exacerbates pay inequities between departments across campus over time,
be it resolved that the UW Eau Claire pay plan henceforth provide that future faculty and academic staff merit pay adjustments award equivalent dollar amounts for equivalent merit ratings across campus.
Be it further resolved that UFAS membership commits itself to educating the university community about campus pay inequities.
On ALEC:
Be it resolved, that the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, in order to ensure the continuing ability to fulfill its mission of providing high-quality public education, immediately adopt a policy prohibiting the university from procuring any goods or services made or supplied by ALEC member industries, entering into any future contracts with ALEC members, and endeavor with all due haste to terminate any current contractual relationships with ALEC members;
be it further resolved, that the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, James Schmidt, use the power of his office to induce The University of Wisconsin System to adopt a policy prohibiting University of Wisconsin system from procuring any goods or services made or supplied by ALEC member industries, entering into any future contracts with ALEC members, and endeavor with all due haste to terminate any current contractual relationships with ALEC members; and
be it further resolved, that UFAS membership commits itself to educating the university community and initiating a dialogue on the activities of ALEC, including sponsored events for this purpose.
Thanks to members who authored these resolutions, and thanks to members who attended, deliberated, and voted on them.