Minutes for May 5, 2025

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. with 163 voting members present (106 needed for quorum). Memorial resolutions were offered for Professor Emerita Marian C. Bean (Faculty Document 3238), Professor Emeritus Paul M. DeLuca, Jr. (Faculty Document 3239), Professor Emeritus Edward N. Ehrlich (Faculty Document 3240), Professor Emeritus Fred Newmann (Faculty Document 3241), and Professor Emeritus Ward Olsen (Faculty Document 3242).

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin thanked outgoing University Committee members Li Chiao-Ping (chair), James Stein and Ellen Zweibel for their service, and thanked faculty senators for their participation in shared governance.

On April 17, 2025, there was a ceremonial groundbreaking event for the College of Engineering's new building, the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center. It will allow the university to have about 1,000 more students pursuing engineering. The building is expected to be open for classes in the fall of 2028 and completed in 2029.

Over the summer, campus leadership will continue to work with colleagues at the Association of American University, the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities, the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the Big Ten regarding responses to actions that are happening at the federal level, and to bring the university’s message to the media through interviews, op-eds and stories.

Last week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued new guidance related to indirect cost rates for new NSF-funded awards and future proposal submissions. There have also been some additional award terminations from the NSF, as well as from the National Institutes of Health, National Endowment for the Arts and other funding agencies. A change from the current F&A (facilities and administrative) rate to 15% would have very wide-ranging and potentially devastating consequences for research and multiple associations are currently investigating legal action. There are also planned cuts and executive orders that affect various funding agencies, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and beyond.

Chancellor Mnookin shared that she signed an April 22 letter from the American Association of Colleges and Universities titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” along with about 500 presidents and chancellors. The letter brings together leaders of private colleges, public universities and associations to assert the value of higher education while being open to constructive reform.

The university does not have the legal authority to be a plaintiff under the state of Wisconsin structure; however, the university has been very involved in helping to support lawsuits and administrative appeals challenging executive orders and agency actions, and to support cases brought by higher education associations in response to eliminating funding mid-project or ending previously negotiated agreements. A number of them have resulted in court orders blocking the federal government from executing directives until further legal judgment is reached. The university is also appealing decisions to terminate funding directly with the federal agencies and working closely with associations across higher education.

The university will soon launch a Research Impact website, to help communicate the importance of the university’s work with alums, stakeholders and the broader community, as polls across the country show growing distrust in higher education.

All 27 international students and alums who were affected by SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records terminations have been returned to active status, meaning they can continue their studies or their post-graduation training.

The Legislative Audit Bureau released an audit related to certain diversity, equity and inclusion activities of University of Wisconsin institutions. Chancellor Mnookin and Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman attending a Joint Audit Committee hearing regarding the report. The audit bureau had the responsibility to understand the work and programing at the university to create an environment in which all members of the community can succeed.

Professor Percival Matthews was appointed as special advisor for access and community, reporting to both the chancellor and the provost. The role is advisory, rather than supervisory, and will help to develop overall plans around supporting access and community, including structures and tactics.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, shared that Faculty Senate operating procedures are posted on the Faculty Senate website, and welcomed newly elected University Committee members Michelle Chui, Natalia de Leon and Robert Mathieu.

During the question period, a faculty senator asked for an update on the launch of the chancellor's ad hoc Environmental Sustainability Council. The chancellor indicated that more details will be shared by the end of summer. A faculty senator asked about how assistant professors should prepare for potential changes in grants awarded and how it will impact tenure dossiers. The chancellor indicated that there will be legal action endeavoring to push back on new grant rates, the provost and divisional committees are thinking about the situation, and this will be something the university needs to pay close attention to as the federal situation evolves and as traditional success may need to be redefined.

The minutes of the March 3, 2025, April 7, 2025, and April 28, 2025 meetings were approved by consent. The proposal to rescind Faculty Legislation II-332 Defining Language Describing Hostile and/or Intimidating Behavior (Faculty Document 3237) was approved by consent.

Professor Douglas McLeod (Journalism and Mass Communication, district 61) presented the Athletic Board annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3243). Professor Nasia Safdar (Medicine, district 89) presented the Committee for Women in the University annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3244). Professor Ajay Sethi (Population Health Sciences, district 99) presented the Health Care Advisory Committee annual report for 2021-2024 (Faculty Document 3245). Professor Devin Kennedy (History, district 60) presented the Library Resources Committee for the Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3246). Associate Vice Chancellor Petra Schroeder presented the University Research Council annual report for 2020-2024 (Faculty Document 3247). Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, presented the spring 2025 faculty committees general election results (Faculty Document 3248). The LGBTQ+ Committee annual report for 2023-2024 (Faculty Document 3234) was postponed to a future meeting, due to the speaker not being available. There were no questions on these reports.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, moved to suspend the rules to allow for immediate consideration of agenda item #17, new business item. The motion was seconded and approved by unanimous consent.

Professor Leah Horowitz (Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, district 107) moved approval of the Resolution to Establish a Mutual Defense Compact for the Universities of the Big Ten Academic Alliance in Defense of Academic Freedom, Institutional Integrity, and the Research Enterprise (written by Rutgers University colleagues) (Faculty Document 3249). The motion was seconded. During discussion, a request to allow student representatives to speak was passed by automatic consent. The motion was approved.

Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) moved approval to amend Faculty Legislation II-303 Protected and Unprotected Expression in a Work-Related Setting (UW-882) (Faculty Document 3227 revised) 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.” The motion was seconded.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, moved to amend Faculty Legislation II-303 to strike the reference to derogation and debasement of a student on the “basis of gender, gender identity and expression, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability,” to remove the specific list, thereby including any derogation and debasement of a student instead of limiting it to specific groups. The motion was seconded. There was discussion on the amendment, regarding the guidance on and assurance of the protection of certain groups of students. Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, withdrew the motion to amend.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, moved to amend Faculty Legislation II-303 Part I from, “These expressions are those that clearly derogate and debase a student or students in the class on the basis of gender, gender identity and expression, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability” to “These expressions are those that clearly derogate and debase a student or students in the class such as on the basis of gender, gender identity and expression, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.” The motion was seconded. There was discussion in support of the amendment to provide guidance while not being absolute on or limiting the policy to specific groups and there was discussion in opposition to the amendment for not being specific on which groups of students are protected. The motion was approved by a hand vote of 79 yes, 56 no.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, moved to amend Faculty Legislation II-303 Part II B.1. “The use, in addressing a specific student, university employee, or recipient of university services, of an epithet or a comment concerning that student, employee or recipient of services that clearly derogates and debases them on the basis of their gender, gender identity and expression, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability is not appropriate and therefore is not protected” to “The use, in addressing a specific student, university employee, or recipient of university services, of an epithet or a comment concerning that student, employee or recipient of services that clearly derogates and debases them such as on the basis of their gender, gender identity and expression, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability is not appropriate and therefore is not protected.” The motion was seconded and approved.

The body voted on Faculty Legislation II-303 Protected and Unprotected Expression in a Work-Related Setting (UW-882), as amended (Faculty Document 3227 revised 2). The motion was approved.

Professor Annie Jones, University Committee member, moved approval of the Statement in Support of the Core Mission and Values of Higher Education in the United States of America (written by Big Ten colleagues) (Faculty Document 3236). The statement articulates the mission and values of higher education and faculty colleagues from the Big Ten universities have asked faculty senates to consider endorsement of the statement. This statement has been endorsed by senates at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Nebraska, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, University of Oregon, Purdue University, the University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State University, and Rutgers University. The motion was seconded.

Professor Nancy Kendall, University Committee member, moved to amend item #7 in the statement, adopting the version passed by the Rutgers University Senate, from, “We agree with the Department of Education that discrimination based on race, color, or national origin (Title VI), sex (Title IX), and disability (ADA) is reprehensible, affirming our legal and moral obligation as educational institutions not to discriminate based on these or other identifying characteristics. Initiatives help to reduce such discrimination, when grounded in best practice, increase opportunities and ensure real meritocracy for all.” to “We agree with the Department of Education that discrimination based on race, color, or national origin (Title VI), sex (Title IX), and disability (ADA) is reprehensible, affirming our legal and moral obligation as educational institutions not to discriminate based on these or other identifying characteristics. Diversity, equity, inclusion and access initiatives, when grounded in practice, help to reduce such discrimination by increasing opportunities and ensuring real meritocracy for all.” The inclusion of “access” in the amendment was passed by automatic consent. The motion was seconded and approved.

The body voted on the Statement in Support of the Core Mission and Values of Higher Education in the United States of America, as amended (Faculty Document 3236 revised). The motion was approved.

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin adjourned the meeting at 5:14 p.m.

Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty