Minutes for August 21, 2023

UC members present: Jones, King, Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault (chair)

Others present: Michaela Aust, Lesley Fisher, John Horn, Julie Scharm

Chair Thibeault called the meeting to order at 1:00pm.

Rob Cramer, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, discussed his role and the structure of his unit. UW System will be taking a $15.9 million reduction for each of the years of the biennium. UW-Madison’s share is $7 million. In addition, UW-Madison is about $5 million short for the 4% pay plan. Growth is projected to continue in tuition, gifts/grants/contracts and auxiliaries. UW-Madison is in a good place both locally and nationally in regards to finances.

Jack O’Meara and Michelle Felber reported that PROFS sent a memo to Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) in July encouraging them to approve the pay plan sooner rather than later. Material needed by JCOER to approve the pay plan was submitted by the Evers administration at the end of July. PROFS continues to work on paid leave for UW-Madison employees.

The minutes from August 7, 2023, were approved by automatic consent.

Lori Reesor, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, reported that there have been meetings between administration and the Blk Pwr Coalition this summer with athletics and communications. The coalition would also like to meet about curriculum, but that has not yet occurred. Student affairs is planning to send out a communication providing updates this fall. Ulrich Rosenhagen is heading up the Center for Interfaith Dialogue under student affairs. In addition, student affairs is hiring a consultant to conduct DEIB training for staff and another to conduct a review of all cultural centers on campus.

Charles Isbell, Provost, discussed the possible change in reporting line of the Graduate School dean from the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education to the Provost. He believes it would help UW-Madison move into its next phase, which includes tackling big interdisciplinary problems. There have been fundamental changes in graduate education, which more closely aligns with the expertise in the Provost’s Office. Moving the reporting line would allow a Vice Chancellor for Research to focus on research.

Provost Isbell discussed his philosophy on search and screen committees in preparation for naming a search and screen committee for the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. He is looking for committee members with broad and diverse experiences, who can leverage their networks in broadening the pool of candidates. He also believes it is important to have people on the committee with no direct stake in the outcome of the hiring process who can ask questions to surface assumptions.

The University Committee briefly discussed the draft document regarding the change of reporting line for the Graduate School dean. They will have further discussion about this document at their next meeting.

Thibeault motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers at 2:47 pm. One leave of absence, three tenure clock extensions, and eight dual role waivers were approved.

Thibeault motioned to reconvene in open session at 3:20 pm. It was seconded and approved.

Thibeault adjourned the meeting at 3:26 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty