Minutes for July 21, 2025

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Chui, de Leon, Jones, Mathieu

Others present: Emily Beach, Greg Bump, Becky Jacobs, Genevieve Lambert, Mallory Musolf, Jack O’Meara, Julie Scharm

Chair Jones called the meeting to order at 1:02 pm.

Rob Cramer, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, indicated that campus leadership continues to work on the new budget approach. The shadow system will provide information on any changes that happen at the federal level.

In regards to Workday, over 38,900 unique users had been in the system since July 1. Faculty are reporting that approvals are easier.

For the state biennial budget, employees will receive a 3% and 2% pay plan. Science Hall funding was approved as well as dining hall expansion and plans for humanities demolition, but no enumeration for a residence hall. There was a substantial increase in funding for the Universities of Wisconsin and continuation of the position cap.

Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs Kent Weigel reviewed leadership opportunities for department chairs. He discussed plans for the RISE hires including seed grants and other activities.

John Zumbrunnen, Interim Provost, discussed the instructional workload policy and developing a working group. Administrators will gather peer information. They expect the Universities of Wisconsin to work quickly on a draft policy.

He is working to identify an Interim Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and would like to think about faculty involvement in teaching and learning at the campus level more broadly. He would like to put together a Division of Teaching and Learning faculty leadership council composed of faculty leaders of some DTL units and other faculty to make recommendations regarding a leadership structure, both for faculty and academic staff, and complete this work during the fall semester.

Kent Weigel is taking the lead on the hiring component of RISE and convening the school/college operations group. Sarah Barber will be stepping into the interim role of Vice Provost for Academic Operations and will take the lead on the infrastructure piece.

The University Committee discussed a proposed academic freedom committee and decided to revisit this agenda item at their next meeting in August.

Bernard-Donals motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss a committee appointment at 3:08 pm.

Chui motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 3:19 pm.

The minutes from July 14, 2025, were approved as distributed.

Jones adjourned the meeting at 4:00 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.