Introduction
Support for University Faculty needs in the State of Wisconsin has continued to deteriorate. The trend dramatically accelerated during the first months of 2011 and became even worse in 2015. In response to this situation, the UW-Milwaukee University Committee (UC) contends that the time has arrived for the UW-Milwaukee Faculty Senate to use an organization empowered to publicly voice the concerns of the UW-Milwaukee faculty. The model for this new organization is the existing UW-Madison Public Representation Organization of the Faculty Senate (PROFS).
Background
What is PROFS?
PROFS is a voluntary, non-profit [501 (c)(6)] organization funded entirely by faculty contributions. PROFS is registered with the State of Wisconsin as a non-stock, non-profit corporation, and is required to file an annual report with the state each year (filing fee is $10 per year). It was created in 1977 by the Faculty Senate to give a voice to UW–Madison faculty, allowing them to communicate their concerns and reactions to matters, including legislation, which directly affect the university and its faculty. The University Committee, the executive committee of the Faculty Senate, serves as the PROFS Board of Directors. The PROFS Steering Committee includes past presidents of PROFS, members of the Faculty Senate, the University Committee, and the Commission on Faculty Compensation and Economic Benefits.
How PROFS Works
The UW-Madison faculty’s support of PROFS allows the organization to hire a half-time legislative representative, Jack O’Meara. Jack monitors legislation and communicates with legislators, the governor, members of Congress, and the Board of Regents. PROFS is also staffed by a half-time administrative assistant, Michelle Felber. PROFS communicates regularly with all faculty through e-mail messages and newsletters, which are posted on the PROFS website, www.profs.wisc.edu. PROFS’ contributions support the organization. Contributions are voluntary and are 0.1% of a nine–month salary, deducted monthly. So, contributions for a faculty member with a $70,000 salary amount to $70 annually. Nearly 1,000 UW-Madison faculty are members.
Successes and Accomplishments
PROFS has worked vigorously over the past four decades and has accomplished a great deal for UW–Madison faculty, including the following:
- PROFS continues to advocate for competitive compensation and helped secure: the 2%/2% pay plan passed in the 2017-19 state budget; the regents’ proposed 3%/3% pay plan for the 19-21 state budget: and Governor Evers’ 19-21 budget, which includes a 2%/2% pay plan, and gives the university enough funding to add an additional 1% per year to get to 3% per year.
- Working with the PROFS Entrepreneurial Group, composed of faculty who started businesses, PROFS has gotten legislation drafted that would make it easier for UW institutions to contract with companies in which faculty members have a financial interest. The bipartisan legislation almost passed the Legislature last session and has been reintroduced this session (SB 42/AB 38). PROFS is working on this legislation with entrepreneurial UW-Milwaukee faculty.
- After passage of Act 10, PROFS led the fight to make sure retirement contributions are taken pre-tax, saving the average UW-Madison faculty member about $1,800 per year. PROFS worked with UW-Milwaukee and UW-La Crosse faculty members who first highlighted this issue, and then convinced the governor and legislators to make the change.
- Several years ago, PROFS successfully advocated for first-day health insurance coverage and domestic partner coverage for university employees.
- PROFS continues to advocate for capital projects and is currently making the case for the governor’s proposed capital budget. PROFS played a key role in securing $86 million in state-supported bonding for the UW–Madison Chemistry Building in the 2015–17 state budget.