Is ACAP Effective?

In his recently released “Op-ed” column, President Martin described the Advisory Council on Administrative Policy (ACAP). He wrote, “For many years staff has had an elected group, the Advisory Council on Administrative Policy (ACAP). The ACAP leadership is represented in virtually every policy-making council and activity. The ACAP chair sits on our Administrative Council and is on every Board of Regents meeting agenda. Moreover, ACAP consistently has a member on each search committee when we fill administrative positions. Is AFSCME unaware of ACAP or do they contend that ACAP is ineffective”?

At the regular monthly meeting for April, the executive committee discussed the need to reaffirm and clearly communicate ACAP's role in representing the staff at NMSU. Additionally, the executive committee wants the entire membership of ACAP to consider the question President Martin asks about ACAP's effectiveness.

Based upon recent actions we feel that ACAP is effective. Recently, many questions regarding administrative issues have been discussed at ACAP meetings. ACAP has made a focused effort to deliver questions regarding current issues to the President. ACAP has formulated positions and delivered clear advice to President Martin. In a memo dated March 17, 2005 ACAP provided input related to four critical issues, unionization, broadbanding, Banner HR and ACAP communications through a new website.

President Martin on March 17, 2005 promised AFSCME administration in Washington DC that he would seek ACAP's advice on the issue of unionization. In fact President Martin did ask for our advice and we delivered. On March 22, 2005 President Martin wrote to AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) administration in both Washington and in Albuquerque and provided them with ACAP's input with respect to how to proceed in offering our employees a means of deciding on unionization.

In a letter to the NMSU faculty and staff dated April 5, 2005, President Martin addressed benefits, salaries, and the implementation of Banner. This communication was distributed campus wide and directly addressed issues that are current, relevant, and definitely on the minds of many in the campus community.

ACAP's relevance and utility is needed badly now and the President has pledged his support to reacquaint the faculty and staff with our mission and our availability. It is the executive committee's opinion that the new website, the president's willingness to openly communicate, and the renewed interest by ACAP membership will all lead to an improved relationship between the faculty and staff and the central administration of the university. In an environment like a university where governance is shared it seems logical that “we should be working with us” to get things accomplished. The outcome of an attitude of shared governance must be based on a genuine desire to ensure that all staff is fairly treated and that together we advance the cause of the university. Some issues are heated for sure, but there clearly are two camps that have evolved in the current environment. One camp is clearly adversarial and operates with an “in your face attitude” while the other camp desires for the staff to be prepared and educated on issues.

During the most recently completed legislative session there were incidents of aggressive interaction between legislators and employees of NMSU seeking to organize through AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees). We should note that the legislature reacted, NMSU employees will receive a .25% greater increase in compensation than AFSCME covered employees at other universities in the state.

As we consider the future of ACAP and our positions as representatives elected by the NMSU community we need to continue to insist on complete and open communication about issues. Hopefully in this way we can make it obvious that not only does ACAP exist but also that ACAP is relevant.