Minutes for March 3, 2025

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. with 171 voting members present (105 needed for quorum). Memorial resolutions were offered for Professor Emerita Susan Stanford Friedman (Faculty Document 3216), Professor Emeritus David Hayman (Faculty Document 3217), Professor Emeritus Ronald D. Schultz (Faculty Document 3218), Professor Emeritus Michael Voichick (Faculty Document 3219), and Professor Emeritus Robert C. West (Faculty Document 3220).

 Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin shared that the federal situation has brought an unprecedented number of challenges to the university’s mission and operations and a large amount of uncertainty. The federal government continues to issue executive orders and related agency actions and directives. Some of them have the potential to disrupt the university’s activities and operations in significant ways and have caused concerns within the university’s communities about long-held values, such as evidence-based research, academic freedom, pluralism, diversity and non-discrimination.

On February 14, 2025, the federal Department of Education Office of Civil Rights issued what is being referred to as the “Dear Colleague” letter, outlining a framework and a broad sense of operational claims that the new administration seems to consider improper under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Protection clause of the United States Constitution, case law and other relevant authorities. The letter indicated that enforcement of directives could begin with 14 days of the letter’s issuance. The chancellor and provost charged a small workgroup to review the university’s existing operations and make recommendations about what potential modifications might be needed in response to the letter; however, they emphasized to the workgroup that there are substantial and legitimate questions about the legal basis for the expansive interpretation of existing civil rights law or the 2023 Students for Fair Admissions Supreme Court case. The workgroup was asked to focus on assessing current activities under existing law. In the wake of the 2023 Supreme Court decision, a number of changes have already been made to various campus processes, programs and activities, and review has continued over the past year, in order to comply with the law. The workgroup has returned some preliminary reactions. They believe that most of the university’s current programs and operations comply with the best understanding of existing law, but that a limited number of programs and activities require further review and likely, some additional changes. They also recommend the review of current language in order to follow existing law, limiting the direct consideration of race as a criterion for who is allowed to participate in activities or operations on campus. They emphasize that efforts to build an inclusive and diverse campus community is neither discriminatory nor illegal. Campus leadership will individually update any affected units about required changes to comply with current law.

On February 26, 2025, an executive order was issued that asks the head of every federal agency in the next 30 days to review and potentially terminate funds dispersed under covered contracts and grants in order to reduce federal spending and to fit the president’s priorities. It specifically prioritizes some international dimensions and grants to educational institutions.

The range of proposed changes and impacts is widespread and it’s likely there will be federal funding reductions to science and higher education. Campus leadership is conducting financial modeling to understand the full impact of potential changes and will provide additional guidance to the campus community when they have concrete information and action steps. They commit to seeking advice from campus leaders and shared governance groups as they work through this and if budget decisions are needed.

As the university responds to directives and challenges, it will be guided by the commitment to excellence in research, teaching and service, and to the values that support that excellence. Academic freedom remains foundational to the university and is core to the mission; fidelity to academic freedom needs to be unwavering. Both intellectual and identity diversity make the university stronger, which coexists with and strengthens the deep and abiding commitment to academic freedom and the belief that we have a shared responsibility to support all members of the community to research their full potential. The Wisconsin Idea provides a north star.

Dr. Nita Ahuja will be the new School of Medicine of Public Health dean and vice chancellor for medical affairs beginning May 15, 2025. Devesh Ranjan will be the new College of Engineering dean beginning June 16, 2025. The UW–Madison Police Department chief search is in the final stages. The chief information officer finalists will be on campus this week.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, shared that the University Committee is monitoring and helping to respond to the current federal situation, along with the workgroup convened by the chancellor.

The University Committee is hosting a faculty town hall on Tuesday, March 11, from 3:30pm-4:30pm, in the Virginia Harrison Parlor in Lathrop Hall. The town hall will provide an opportunity to learn about shared governance and to share priorities and issues of concern.

During the question period, the chancellor addressed two sets of questions submitted by faculty senators in advance, related to federal funding changes and budgetary impacts. The chancellor shared that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed reduction of UW–Madison’s negotiated indirect cost rate, currently paused by a temporary restraining order, would eliminate approximately $65 million in funding across campus in the current year; NIH is the university’s largest single source of funding. A portion of indirect funds are returned to schools and colleges, so impacts on individuals departments are dependent on school/college decisions. Another portion of indirect funds are used for research-related costs across campus. A loss of $65 million would be difficult to manage without meaningful change and would likely mean some weakening of the university’s research activity, making lead research universities less competitive in the global marketplace and potentially creating ripple-effects in the state’s economy. Reductions could affect various aspects of research, such as laboratory and facility construction, data infrastructure costs, utilities and the ability to administer grants appropriately, and would pose challenges with the considerable expense of complying with federal rules and regulations surrounding research. The provost, vice chancellor for research, vice chancellor for finance and administration and the deans are working to outline how the university can respond if federal funding is lost to a significant degree. Right now, the university’s total amount of federal research funding is nearly $1 billion a year.

The chancellor addressed a third set of questions submitted by a faculty senator and alternate in advance, related to federal immigration laws and privacy rights. The chancellor shared that faculty and staff should refer to the Office of Legal Affairs website, which includes guidance for a site visit by government agents and law enforcement: https://legal.wisc.edu/contacts-law-enforcementgov-attorney/. Federal agents are free to enter public spaces of the workplace but must have a valid search warrant to enter a non-public area. Public areas may include reception, waiting areas and lobbies; open dining areas such as cafeterias; restrooms; and other common areas accessible by members of the public without screening or escort. Non-public areas include private offices and laboratories; private residential rooms; classrooms, conference/meeting rooms, and lecture halls that are currently in use; and other secured or restricted-access areas designated for instructional, research, or building and campus operational use. Campus employees should contact the Office of Legal Affairs at 608-263-7400 if they encounter any government officials on campus, before complying with a warrant. The phone number is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Related to privacy, there are multiple policies and privacy laws that apply to UW–Madison as an institution of higher education, employer and where applicable, a provider of health care. This includes the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protect an individual’s information where applicable. The UW–Madison Privacy Notice is online at: https://www.wisc.edu/privacy-notice/. With student data protected by FERPA, only directory information (the fact that a student is enrolled and their address on file with campus) is released; other identifiable information can only be released with permission from the student unless otherwise authorized by FERPA. Immigration status is protected information under FERPA.

Faculty senators asked about questions related to the potential financial commitments the university might make to faculty and staff, continuation of the RISE initiative, and the incoming graduate student class. The chancellor shared that campus leadership is working with the deans to think about priorities and frameworks; that work is still ongoing. The university has some bridge funding; however, with the potential numbers, there won’t be enough bridge funding to cover the losses. Supporting existing students is high on the chancellor’s list of priorities. In regards to RISE, there may need to be a reduction in faculty hiring in general if the university faces significant cuts. The provost and the dean of the Graduate School recently issued guidance urging caution about admissions decisions, and that it’s important to find a balance given the current federal situation.

A faculty senator asked about budget cuts related to faculty, especially in regards to indirect costs. and whether there will be proactive thought on how to spread the burden of budget reductions throughout the university. The chancellor indicated that the university has a responsibility to consider how to reduce administrative costs and work efficiently across the institution, to maximize commitments to the research, teaching and service enterprises. Any budgetary changes will not rest solely on faculty but will be considered across the entire enterprise.

Faculty senators asked questions about assistant professors and their ability to obtain tenure due to grant funding and loss of federal data sources. The chancellor indicated that if there are reduced opportunities for obtaining grants for certain types of research, the university will need to consider how to ensure assistant professors can conduct transformative research that will lead them towards success. This will be an issue for peer institutions as well and an area that will require specific focus and attention.

A faculty senator asked about how the university can share information with people in Wisconsin about the impact of federal funding cuts to the state. The chancellor shared that communications teams have been working on this, and there is more advocacy to come. It is also important to recognize that national polls indicate that there is less trust in universities across the political spectrum than there was 10-15 years ago, which makes moments like this significantly harder.

The minutes of the February 3, 2025 meeting were approved by consent.

Professor Carey McAndrews (Planning and Landscape Architecture, district 22) presented the Campus Transportation Committee report for 2022-2024 (Faculty Document 3221). Professor Eric Hoyt (Communication Arts, district 49) presented the Information Technology Committee annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3222). Professor Eve Emshwiller (Botany, district 47) presented the Lectures Committee annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3223). Professor Michael Collins (School of Human Ecology, district 43) and Carol Hulland presented the Retirement Issues Committee annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3224). Professor Don Taylor (School for Workers, district 115) presented the proposal to rename the Department of Labor Education to the Department of Labor Studies (Faculty Document 3225). An update to the candidates for the faculty-elected committees for spring 2025 was shared (Faculty Document 3212 revised). There were no questions on these reports.

Professor Annie Jones, University Committee member, moved approval of the academic calendar for 2029-2023 (Faculty document 3213). The motion was approved.

Professor Keith Woodward (Geography, district 57), presented a first reading of the Resolution Concerning the May 1, 2024, Police Violence Against the Protestors on UW–Madison Library Mall (Faculty Document 3214). Professor James Stein, University Committee member, presented a first reading on the Resolution on a Collaborative Path to Protest and Free Expression at UW–Madison (Faculty Document 3215). Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) presented a first reading on the Resolution on Policies Regarding Political Speech and/or Expressive Activity (Faculty Document 3226) and presented a first reading of a proposal to a amend Faculty Legislation II-303 Protected and Unprotected Expression in a Work-Related Setting (UW-882) to clarify language regarding derogation and debasement, along with a statement affirming that “The University of Wisconsin–Madison remains committed to the principle of academic freedom and values diversity of identity and opinion” (Faculty Document 3227). A vote on these items is anticipated at a spring Faculty Senate meeting.

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin adjourned the meeting at 5:07 p.m.

Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty