Minutes for January 31, 2022

UC members present: Babcock, Halverson, Papp, Sandgren (chair), Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault

Others present besides those listed below: Michaela Aust, Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Jane Richard, Jake Smith

Sandgren called the meeting to order at 1:00. 

The minutes of the meeting of January 24, 2022, were approved by consent. 

Matt Hitchman, senator for the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (District 64), presented a motion supporting an academic staff resolution asking that the state pay plan be distributed as base-building regardless of where staff fell within a pay band. Papp moved to support the resolution. It was seconded and approved. 

The February Senate Agenda has 5 business items. In addition to the motion by Matt Hitchman, there is a resolution from the Committee on Disability, Access and Inclusion, the 2026-2027 academic calendar, removing an outdated policy on university facility use, and adding a deadline for appeal to dean in the policy on promotion from associate professor to professor. 

The University Committee will ask the Faculty Senate for input on a briefing document for the new UW System President. Eric will also provide an update on the ad hoc committee for administrative burden and the development of a tracking system for shared governance issues.

Mindi Thompson, chair of the Kemper K. Knapp Bequest Committee, provided the annual report for the committee. The Morgridge Center and the Lectures Committee, usually in the queue, did not submit funding requests, likely because of the pandemic. The committee also advertised a slightly higher funding range this year in an effort to attract more applicants.

Adrian Treves, chair, and Ruben Mota, ex officio member of the Committee on Disability, Access and Inclusion, presented a resolution for the Faculty Senate to consider. They also discussed broad issues with accommodations for faculty and staff. The University Committee asked share information at what level issues were occurring.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank reported that the spring semester has begun, and the chemistry building is open. Student positive tests were lower last week than the week before; masks are required through March 1. UW-Madison is hosting the Board of Regents meeting next week so there will be UW-Madison presentations at all sessions. The administration started budget meetings with campus units.

Carol Hulland and Cliff Robb, co-chairs of the Retirement Issues Committee, presented the committee’s annual report for 2019-2021 that will be at the March Faculty Senate meeting. They are identifying gaps in the transition to retirement for different groups and making sure retirement benefits are accessible and usable. They would like to survey both employees and retirees next academic year.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session; it was seconded and approved at 3:01. 

Sandgren moved to reconvene in open session; it was seconded and approved at 3:20.

Sandgren adjourned the meeting at 3:23.