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What is PROFS, Inc. and what does it do?

PROFS, Inc. is a voluntary non-profit organization of over 900 UW-Madison faculty members. It was set up in 1976 by the Faculty Senate, shortly after the merger of the UW system. PROFS is not a union. PROFS advocates on behalf of the UW-Madison faculty before state legislators, the Governor, the Board of Regents, the U.S. Congress and the public.

PROFS works on behalf of the UW-Madison faculty to protect and improve:

  • Competitive compensation

  • Protection of tenure

  • State support for the UW operating budget

  • New UW buildings and campus building and utility maintenance

  • Health insurance: better dental care coverage and expanded benefits for domestic partners

  • Federal support for research (PROFS is lobbying against a state or federal ban on stem cell research)

  • Retirement benefits

  • Faculty governance

PROFS follows the legislative and federal issues that affect the UW-Madison faculty, testifies before legislative committees, arranges to speak to legislators in their offices, and writes letters to the Governor and public officials.

Who Belongs to PROFS?
Over 900 UW-Madison faculty are members of PROFS! The University Committee serves as PROFS Board of Directors. A Steering Committee of eleven faculty members representing the UW-Madison Faculty Senate, the UW-Madison Commission on Faculty Compensation and Economic Benefits, the Budget Planning and Analysis Committee and the University Committee oversees PROFS activities and determines PROFS positions and actions on the issues.

Faculty support of PROFS allows us to hire Jack O’Meara as our Legislative Representative for PROFS. Read more about Jack's work and success for PROFS.

The PROFS administrative office is located at 258 Bascom Hall.  Marian Ekweogwu is the administrative secretary and newsletter editor (Phone: 263-9273).

Finances and Dues
PROFS' dues are one-tenth of one percent of your salary and are handled as a voluntary payroll deduction. For example, for a $50,000 nine-month salary, dues are $5.56 per month. An outside financial assistant handles PROFS finances on a day-to-day basis and the financial records are audited every two years.

Questions? Comments? Please contact Marian Ekweogwu (PROFS office 263-9273), Jack O’Meara (294-8746), or any member of the PROFS Board of Directors or Steering Committee.