Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee (NIASRC)
Article I: Purpose and Responsibilities
Section 1: Purpose
The purpose of the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee is to review non-
instructional academic staff members who are recommended for indefinite status by their
supervisors and to make a recommendation to the appropriate dean/division head.
(AS Doc 146, 1/24)
Section 2: Responsibilities
In accordance with UWM Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Chapters 103.02 and 107.03, the Committee conducts a review of each candidate’s employment history at the University according to the requirements of the candidate’s position and the professional standards of the academic staff. The Committee must provide a written recommendation to the appropriate dean/division head within thirty days after receiving the request for advice from the dean/division head.
Committee members must vote in all cases except where a clear conflict of interest exists (see “Operating Policies and Procedures of the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review
Committee,” Section VIII).
To ensure a thorough review and privacy of the candidate, Committee members must respect the strictest standards of confidentiality. The contents of the review file, additional information, and the Committee deliberations must not be revealed to non-members of the Committee, except as legally mandated. A written recommendation is sent to the dean/division head and the candidate but must not be revealed to anyone else without the written consent of the candidate.
At its first meeting of the committee year, the Committee reviews the “Operating Policies and Procedures of the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee” and “Review of Non- Instructional Academic Staff for Indefinite Appointment” and submits recommended changes to the Senate of the Academic Staff for approval. The “Operating Policies and Procedures of the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee,” as amended, become effective upon approval. Any changes to the “Review of Non-Instructional Academic Staff for Indefinite Appointment” become effective the first day of the committee year following approval.
Each year, no later than October 15, the Committee publishes the “Review of Non-Instructional Academic Staff for Indefinite Appointment,” “Operating Policies and Procedures of the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee,” and a schedule of meetings, and distributes them to the chancellor, deans, division heads, and probationary non-instructional academic staff members.
(AS Doc 146, 1/24)
Article II: Membership
Section 1: Structure
The Committee consists of seven non-instructional academic staff members with indefinite appointment elected by non-instructional academic staff members holding probationary or indefinite appointments. No more than two members may be from any college or division at the time of their election to the committee.
(AS Doc 71, 2/12)
(AS Doc 146, 1/24)
(AS Doc 150, 5/25)
Section 2: Nomination/Election Procedures
Members are nominated and elected in accordance with standard Academic Staff Operating
Rules. (AS Doc 146, 1/24)
Section 3: Term of Office
The term of office begins on the first day of the fall contractual period as it appears in the
academic year calendar published on the Secretary of the University’s website and ends the
day before the next fall contractual period begins. All members serve three-year terms. No
member may serve consecutive three-year terms.
(AS Doc 146, 1/24)
Section 4: Absences
Participation of the entire Committee membership is essential to ensure a timely and equitable review of each candidate. Members who miss six meetings within any consecutive twelve months forfeit their committee membership. There are no excused absences. In instances where a committee member may have to miss six or more meetings for a significant medical or life event, a “leave” may be taken from the committee and a replacement appointed for a semester or year (as determined by the approved leave) with a subsequent return to the Committee to fulfill the remainder of the term. Such leave must be requested and approved by the committee chair and the Secretary of the University prior to the committee member’s sixth absence.
(AS Doc 141, 9/23)
Section 5: Vacancies
If a vacancy occurs, the position is filled by the eligible candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the most recent election. That candidate will serve the remainder of the term associated with the vacancy. If no eligible candidate is available, the Academic Staff Committee appoints an academic staff member to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of service. (AS Doc 40, 5/09, revised 7/09)
Article III: Organization
Section 1: Officers
The officers are the Chair and Secretary. Other officers are appointed by the Committee as
necessary.
- Responsibilities
The Chair presides at meetings; communicates on behalf of the Committee with
dean/division heads and review candidates; forwards official files of the
Committee, including minutes of meetings and records of official actions, to the
Secretary of the University’s Office; appoints subcommittees to perform other
tasks, as appropriate; prepares and distributes the agenda for all meetings; and
is the liaison with the Academic Staff Committee.
The Secretary takes minutes and distributes them to committee members, the
Chair of the Academic Staff Committee, and the Office of the Secretary of the
University; maintains the attendance records of committee members; and
conducts Committee business in the absence of the Chair.
Responsibilities of other officers are determined when each position is created.
(AS Doc 146, 1/24) - Eligibility
In order to maintain continuity of leadership, the Chair must have served on the
Committee during the year prior to their term of office. Other offices may be held
by any Committee member regardless of prior length of committee service. - Election, Term of Office, Vacancies
Officers are elected for a one-year term. Elections take place at a regular
Committee meeting within one month after the annual academic staff elections.
Officers may not serve more than two consecutive terms. If a vacancy occurs,
the Committee elects a new officer at the next regular meeting to complete the
unexpired term.
(AS Doc 146, 1/24)
Section 2: Meetings
- Regular and Special Meetings
No later than September 15, the Chair calls the first meeting at which the
Committee establishes a schedule of monthly meetings. The Chair calls special
meetings as needed or at the request of two or more Committee members. - Quorum
A quorum consists of four members. - Standing Rules
All Committee meetings are conducted according to the latest edition of Robert’s
Rules of Order, unless otherwise specified in these bylaws. - Agenda
The agenda is distributed prior to each meeting. Any Committee member or non-
instructional academic staff member may place an item of business on the
agenda of any regular meeting by contacting the Chair prior to the distribution of
the agenda. Additional items may not be added to the agenda of special
meetings once the agenda has been distributed.
(AS Doc 146, 1/24)
Article IV: Amendments to the Bylaws
A motion to amend these bylaws may be made only by a Committee member and must be
placed on the agenda prior to a regularly scheduled meeting. Amendments must be approved by a majority vote of both the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee and the Senate of the Academic Staff. All proposed amendments must be reviewed by the Codification Committee for logic, clarity, and consistency of language prior to final approval by the Senate.
Any approved bylaws amendment(s) must be reported at the next regular meeting of the
academic staff.
NIASRC Bylaws
4/90
3/07
2/10
9/23
1/24
5/25