A debate has erupted between the UW System Board of Regents and Wisconsin State Legislation about UW employment practices that continue to pay employees in \backup"" positions and after being convicted of a felony.
This debate has led to plans for reviews of employment policies by both the Joint Legislative Audit Bureau and the Board of Regents this September. Pending these reviews, backup appointments have been suspended.
According to Regent President David Walsh, backup appointments, which grant employees ""backup"" jobs if they cannot fulfill their duties, are necessary for quality employment at UW schools. Walsh explained that it is an issue of job security, a common practice among business and a matter of state law.
""State law requires that an employee that moves into a limited appointment must get a tenured appointment. A lot of people call that a backup appointment. It is state law,"" Walsh said.
State representative Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said he disagreed. According to Suder, backup appointments need to be eliminated from UW system employment packages.
""[The UW System] needs to end its policy of granting backup jobs to individuals who have been fired,"" Suder said. Contrary to Walsh's opinions, Suder said backup appointments are not necessary and are not common in other business institutions.
""The university needs to completely revamp its policies to reflect mainstream policies,"" Suder said.
To further the employment debate, UW system employees can stay on the payroll after being convicted of felony while the university conducts its own investigation to determine grounds for dismissal.
Suder expressed interest in leading an effort to eliminate this process.
""I firmly believe they need to change their policies so that when someone is convicted of a serious felony they are dismissed immediately,"" Suder said.
According to Walsh, this issue is also a matter of state law.
""It is state law for UW to hold its own investigation,"" Walsh said. ""Significant protections that the Legislature determined say you have to prove cause [even after being convicted in a court of law].""
""We still have a responsibility to the public for their safety that we move quickly and fairly,"" Walsh added. ""Every employee is entitled to be heard,"" Walsh added.
The two sides can agree that changes are necessary.
""We need [these policies] more transparent to make sure everyone understands what those policies are and why we have them,"" Walsh said.
""[The university] needs to change their policies,"" Suder said. ""Clearly the university does not have their priorities sitting with the students.\
