Minutes for October 6, 2025 

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

Others present: Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Ashley Hagen, Becky Jacobs, Genevieve Lambert, Sabine Martin, Julie Scharm

Chair Jones called the meeting to order at 1:06 pm.

The minutes from the September 29, 2025, meeting were approved as distributed.

Kent Weigel, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs, discussed how to support assistant professors with the UC. Discussion focused on mentoring and department tenure guidelines. Secretary Daniels and Vice Provost Weigel will discuss the UC’s ideas and report back.

Chui 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 and committee appointments at 1:31 pm.

Bernard-Donals motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 2:08 pm.

The University Committee discussed the draft response to the Board of Regents proposed policy on Core General Education Requirements. The UC will send out its draft to all faculty following the Faculty Senate meeting. UC chair Annie Jones and Secretary Daniels shared their conversations with students and faculty regarding the proposal and the incorrect information that UW-Madison could no longer require an Ethnic Studies course. UW-Madison will not need to change its general education requirements to meet the proposed policy as currently written. 

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin shared news of homecoming, her event with Donna Shalala and the opening of Morgridge Hall. She also indicated that the search and screen committees for the Dean of the School of Nursing and the Provost would be announced soon.

She also reiterated that UW-Madison would not need to change any of its general education requirements to meet the proposed Regents policy. Chancellor Mnookin indicated they are working to figure out the right framework for the instructional workload policy that respects legislative intent while at the same time recognizes the range of ways teaching occurs on campus. In regards to the federal shutdown, the longer it lasts the more complicated it becomes for campus to handle.

Jones adjourned the meeting at 3:10pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.