Comments on: Day one: idea roll call

By: Seriously? «

Seriously? « — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:01:07 +0000

[...] Jump to Comments How Barb Katz, UW’s Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, thinks we can save money in a tight economy: Start charging fines for students that are found in violation for breaking the Student Code of [...]

By: Cindy Van Matre

Cindy Van Matre — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:13:17 +0000

Departments can save money by simply changing the configuration of their phone lines. When our department was charged $988.80 in 2008 for just 2 phone lines and a fax line, I asked DoIT what could be done to reduce the cost. I was told we could make a configuration change on our two phones that would help reduce the monthly charges. The two lines we’ve had are called point-to-point. By consolidating these lines (called multi-point), we can save $286.92 per year (and we won’t even notice the change!). There’s a $50 charge through AT&T to make this change, but we’ll still save more than $225. If other departments can make the same changes, these savings would add up quickly!!

By: Ron Amerson, OBPA

Ron Amerson, OBPA — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:09:16 +0000

I’ve worked for the UW System for 23 years. (14 at Extension and 9 here in OBPA)

I believe that you would get much more support for “Catch Up” salary increases for Faculty if you did not include Academic Staff in your requests. It would also be much better for the morale of the Classified staff at UW.

Ron Amerson,OPBA

By: Grant Smith

Grant Smith — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:41:44 +0000

While it may provide a nominal increase in available funds, charging additional fines (heavy legal fines being already enforced) for drinking violations is probably detrimental to student opinion of the administration and may lead to student unrest. Overall, it contributes almost solely to the net increase in negativity among all those affected (students will not stop drinking, will be more frustrated and upset, and take it out on the administration).

Maintaining a strong research program is definitely important, but focuses must be placed on efficient use of resources including the preferential distribution of funding to areas of societal concern such as renewable energy and reduced environmental impact (aspects of global sustainability).

By: David Kaplan

David Kaplan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:49:14 +0000

Do everything possible to maintain our research infrastructure and our “sifting and winnowing” tradition. Maintaining our preeminence in research should put us in a good position to reap benefits when the economy turns around.

By: Barb Kautz

Barb Kautz — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:02:28 +0000

Start charging fines for students that are found in violation for breaking the Student Code of Conduct. Currently, students are not charged, however at every of other university I’ve worked at they are. Especially in the case of underage drinking, if a student can afford to go out and buy alcohol, then the student can afford to pay a fine if they are caught with it.