Tag: PROFS

May Legislative Update

View of Abraham Lincoln statue with Bascom Hall in the backgroundThe update below was shared with senators and guests at the Faculty Senate meeting yesterday. The Senate meets in Room 272 Bascom Hall at 3:30 pm on the first Monday of the month, October-December and February-May.

Legislative Update

The Legislature has concluded its last regular session, but Governor Tony Evers called a special session on partisan gerrymandering last month. No action has been taken, but the session remains open. The governor and Republican legislative leaders are also thought to be negotiating an agreement to provide property tax relief and additional K-12 funding using a portion of the state’s projected $2.5 billion budget surplus.

Fall Elections

Candidates wishing to run for statewide or legislative races in Wisconsin must file valid nomination papers by June 1, and the fall primary election is Tuesday, August 11. After the adoption of newly-drawn legislative maps and more than 15 Republican legislators choosing to not run again, both parties have a chance of gaining control of the Assembly or Senate, or both. While eight Democrats are currently running for governor, Republicans have put their support behind Congressman Tom Tiffany of Minocqua.

PROFS plans to host one or more candidate forums in Dane County area legislative districts this summer. We will also reach out to the gubernatorial candidates to learn more about their positions on higher education and related issues.

PROFS/ASPRO Forum on Federal Issues

US Capitol

US Capitol, Washington, DC

PROFS and ASPRO, the Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization, are hosting a forum on recent federal actions impacting UW-Madison and higher education across the United States at 9 am, Thursday, April 24. A poster for the event is below. Feel free to print and post.

DC Update: How the Trump Administration’s Actions Will Reshape Higher Education

  • 9 am, Thursday, April 24
  • Symphony Room, Gordon Dining & Event Center, (Room 241A, 770 W. Dayton Street)

The higher education community has been reeling since Donald Trump was inaugurated in January. Wide-ranging executive orders – relating to federal funding of research, DEI programs and policies, and immigration – to name just a few, have impacted UW-Madison and colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Our panel will discuss federal actions to-date and share their thoughts on how these actions may impact UW-Madison and higher education nationally.

PROFS President Michael Bernard-Donals will moderate:

This event is free and open to the public. Pastries and coffee will be served at 8:30 am.

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

PROFS Statement on the Recommendations of the Legislative Council Study Committee on the Future of UW System

A legislative study committee has been meeting since July to discuss UW System’s enrollment and budget challenges. The committee met for last time last month and voted on 19 proposed recommendations, and the results of their votes were made public on Thursday. Our statement on their action is here:

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Voting Information for Students

PROFS shared the message and slides below with its membership earlier this week. We encourage all faculty to take a few minutes in class to ensure students have accurate information about the process and requirements to vote in Wisconsin.

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

PROFS President on For the Record

PROFS President Michael Bernard-Donals was recently interviewed by Will Kenneally for WISC-TV’s public affairs program For the Record. Bernard-Donals discussed the agreement reached last week between Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

 

PROFS Statement on JCOER Action on UW Compensation Plan

On Tuesday, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Employment Relations met to vote on state employee pay plans. Funding for the pay raises was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tony Evers as part of the 2023-25 state budget. The Republican-led committee declined to vote on the UW System pay plan, withholding UW employee pay raises for the foreseeable future. Our statement:

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

October Legislative Update

A student walking down Bascom Hill with Bascom Hall in the background on a fall day.

(Photo by Bryce Richter/UW-Madison)

The update below was shared with Senators and guests at the Faculty Senate meeting yesterday. Senate meetings are held on the first Monday of the month in Room 272 Bascom Hall from October through May, except in January. The meetings are open to the public and more information can be found here.

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

PROFS Urges JCOER to Approve State Employee Pay Plan

The 2023-25 state budget signed into law by Governor Tony Evers on July 5 included funding for pay increases for state employees, including UW-Madison faculty and staff — a 4% pay increase effective July 1, 2023 and a 2% pay increase on July 1, 2024.

The Joint Committee on Employment Relations must approve the pay play for the raises to take effect. Our letter urging the co-chairs to schedule a committee meeting to approve the plan as soon as possible is below:

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

PROFS Statement on Paid Family Leave

PROFS recognizes the importance of paid family leave to UW-Madison faculty and supports paid family leave for all state employees. We have had discussions with Governor Tony Evers and his staff on the issue and continue to make it a top legislative priority.

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab