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

Others: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, John Horn, Jane Richard

Sandgren call the meeting to order at 1:00.

The minutes of the meeting of February 14, 2022 were approved by consent.

Rob Cramer, Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, shared presentations given to the Board of Regents on real estate and facilities. The Board of Regents approved two parcels in Research Park for development. A district plan for the west end of campus is part of the master plan. A partner (TBD) will work with stakeholders to bring forward parcels in that quadrant for the Board of Regents approval in the fall or next spring. Then work will start on a plan for the east end of campus.

On the facilities side, over 60% of buildings on campus have not had a major renovation on them in more than 25 years; with no action, that will rise to over 80% by 2030. We need new options to care for facilities, such as understanding the building portfolio, using common sense financial strategies, leveraging existing delivery options, and pursuing targeted demolition. Financial strategies include expanding gifts, grants, and public-private partnerships. New strategies include real estate development and pursuing bonding for UW-Madison.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session; it was seconded and approved at 1:21. One tenure clock extension was approved pending a corrected document.

Sandgren moved to reconvene in open session; it was seconded and approved at 2:21.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced that the Big Ten is addressing the altercation following the Michigan-Wisconsin men’s basketball game. The administration is in the midst of annual budget meetings.

UW System announced Wednesday morning that masking mandates will be removed between March 1 and spring break. Madison administration consulted with campus public health experts, John Zumbrunnen (Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning), deans, and others about the issue. Although they considered requiring masks in the classroom as a campus policy or at the instructor’s discretion, the final policy allows instructors to ask their classes to wear masks, but it cannot be required.  

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session; it was seconded and approved at 2:53.

Sandgren moved to reconvene in open session; it was seconded and approved at 3:18.

Sandgren adjourned the meeting at 3:19.