University of Wisconsin - Stout

Senate News

Contact Information

Jerry Addie , Chair
11 Harvey Hall
715/232-1352

Related Governance

About the Senate of Academic Staff

Chapter 36 of the Wisconsin Statutes directs the faculty and academic staff to determine its own organization and select their representatives to participate in institutional shared governance. The academic staff of each institution, subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president, the chancellor, and the faculty shall be active participants in the immediate governance of and policy development for such institution.

On the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus, the academic staff's governing body is represented by the Senate of Academic Staff (see History). Through this organization, academic staff can assert their primary responsibility for the formulation and review of policies and procedures of concern to the academic staff, including personnel matters. Our Chancellor has demonstrated a commitment to strong academic staff governance, the success of which depends upon the administration's openness to listening to and consulting with the academic staff, and the academic staff's willingness to participate. Academic staff members are encouraged to contact and consult with their Senators on issues of concern, and also to attend the Senate of Academic Staff meetings.

All Senate of Academic Staff meetings comply with the Open Meetings Law (Sections 19.81-19.98 of the Wisconsin Statutes). This Law recognizes that keeping citizens informed about governmental affairs is essential to maintaining a democratic form of government and protects the public's right to full and complete information about most governmental activities. The Law requires that, except in limited circumstances, every meeting of a state or local governmental body be open to the public.