Who Are Academic Staff?

We are professional and administrative personnel other than faculty and classified staff with duties, and subject to types of appointments, that are primarily associated with higher education institutions [universities, two-year colleges, extension] or their administration. (UWS 1.01 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).  For more information, see a UWS briefing book at  http://www.uwsa.edu/acss/asreps/brief.htm#briefingbook.

Positions Held

Academic staff professionals hold a wide range of positions in which they directly and indirectly influence the overall quality of education received by undergraduate and graduate students, as well as individuals participating in non-formal education in the arena of outreach and non-credit education.  Academic Staff are also in charge of or directly involved with research that affects the quality of life of the people of Wisconsin and around the world.  Some examples of Academic Staff positions include:

  • lecturers, instructional specialists and program managers, faculty associates, clinical professors
  • advisors, counselors, financial aid officers,
  • deans, career planning and placement specialists
  • scientists and researchers,
  • registration and computer experts,
  • directors and student services managers,
  • research and instructional instrumentation innovators,
  • outreach and continuing education specialists,
  • program managers, cartographers, geologists,
  • archivists, curators, librarians, artists,
  • medical illustrators, engineers,
  • administrative specialists, policy and planning analysts,
  • attorneys, controllers, consultants, and directors of computing

(For a complete list of positions, see the UWS Unclassified Personnel Guidelines #1 and #2 with attachments)

Shared Governance

Since 1985, participation of Academic Staff in the governance of their institutions [and UWS] has been provided under Ch. 36.09(4m), Wisconsin Statutes, in language that parallels that for the faculty.  Today, Academic Staff participate in the governance of their institutions through an academic staff council, executive committee and/or assembly or senate, or through an all-university senate.  A representative from these academic staff governance units form the Academic Staff Representatives Council (ASRC), which meets regularly with the UWS Senior Vice President for Administration to provide input, assistance, and advice, and to advocate for and communicate about key policy matters affecting Academic Staff.

The Numbers

Academic Staff represent the largest sector of employees within the University of Wisconsin System.  Academic Staff grew from 7,083 FTE in 1993 to 10,019 in 2003 while other staff categories remained stable.  

The growth in Academic Staff mirrors the increase in UW System student enrollment during the same period, as Academic Staff were added to meet the increased demand for instruction and student support programs.  Expanding research programs and increasing of computing technologies throughout the UW System were other sources of demand for additional Academic Staff. 

The increase in Academic Staff has not relied solely on the support of Wisconsin taxpayers and students.  Only about a third of the increase in Academic Staff FTE from 1993 to 2003 came from general fund sources.  By 2003, only 48% of Academic Staff were funded through the general fund, with the rest were funded through program revenue, including 21% from federal sources.  In contrast, 91% of Faculty FTE and 68% of Classified FTE were funded through the general fund in 2003. 

Commitment

A visible indicator of Academic Staff’s commitment to students, their academic or professional discipline, home campus and the System, is the length of time members serve their institution.  Examples of the solid bond between Academic Staff and UW System are the 9.9 average years of service at UW Stout and the 50% of UW Oshkosh’s Academic Staff with six or more years of service.  System-wide, over three-fourths (75.9%) of Academic Staff across the UW System have renewable, automatically renewable (rolling horizon) or indefinite appointments which generally represent longer periods of service than terminal one-year or other short-term appointments.  

Academic Staff by Appointment Type

 

Fixed: Terminal

Fixed: Renewable

Rolling Horizon

Indefinite

Appointment

Other

Total

FTE

2,188

5,871

1,146

588

226

10,019

Percent of Total

21.8%

58.6%

11.4%

5.9%

2.3%

100%

Source: October 2003 Payroll.  Excludes academic staff with Limited appointments and employees of the UW Hospital and Clinics.

Contributions

Academic Staff obtain and administer significant amounts and types of extramural grants that support the university missions and community needs in addition to accomplishing their daily responsibilities.  Some examples of the grant activities include:

  • UW LaCrosse - $3.36 million (approx.) in FY 2004 for projects like MVAC Archaeology education programs, Upward Bound, Small Business Development Center and others.
  • UW Whitewater - -$3.4 million (approx.) in FY 2004 in extramural grants
  • UW Stout – Separate grants awarded from each of the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education and Commerce
  • UW System (all campuses) – $16.47 million in FY 2002 for 64 TRIO programs serving 12,114 students.

Academic Staff are an integral part of the UW’s teaching mission.  Instructional Academic Staff grew as a share of the total instructional FTE from 22% in 1994 to 28% in 2003, compare to faculty (58%) and graduate assistants (14%).  Instructional Academic Staff teach about on-third of all student credit hours (32%)  and account for about one-third of faculty contact hours (32%) with students in the UW System (Source: UW System Instructional Analysis Information System).

Engagement

Academic Staff are engaged with their campus and the System, they are invaluable contributors to and engaged with their communities and professions.  Some examples include:

  • Participating in campus and community theatre, the arts;
  • Offering short courses and delivering other extended education opportunities;
  • Serving on city, school, county committees and boards
  • Assisting in public schools, Volunteering for “Meals on Wheels,” United Way;
  • Coaching Little League teams and leading scout troops;
  • Training local community members and school officials in safety programs.
  • Participating as members and leaders in community organizations (eg, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, YWCA, Hunger Task Force)
  • Holding leadership roles in state and national professional organizations
  • Working with local employers to develop internships, co-ops, etc. that provide a smooth and successful transition from academic to work life for students and enhance the educated workforce of the state.

For more information about Academic Staff, please consult:

UWS Academic Staff website (http://www.uwsa.edu/acss/asreps)