University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-02-16
Minutes for February 16, 2026
UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Chui, de Leon, Jones, Kendall, Mathieu
Others present: Annika Bereny, Greg Bump, Zoey Elwood, Becky Jacobs, Genevieve Lambert, Sabine Martin, Julie Scharm, Clara Strecker
Chair Jones called the meeting to order at 1:01 pm.
Elmo Rawling shared the analysis that members of the Budget Committee had done regarding the budget approach. The committee recommended moving forward with caution. Their concerns include adverse behaviors and the unusual pressures facing higher education. The committee will be spending the next couple meetings understanding the effect of federal cuts on Extension and Title VI. The UC asked Elmo to find out whether the trends they examined for the College of Letters and Science are representative of the other schools/college. They also asked the Budget Committee to monitor trends once the approach is implemented.
Jack O’Meara from PROFS shared that the Assembly intends to wrap up their regular session activities this week. Bills currently under consideration include changing scholarship programs that are race based to disadvantaged; changing the way that undergraduate admission decisions are made; and adding NIL language to state statute. PROFS is considering how to provide information to legislators regarding the federal funding cuts that UW-Madison received.
The minutes from February 9, 2026, meeting were approved.
Dean Bill Karpus indicated that the Graduate School has traditionally spent the limited amount of money they have on PhD students. He does intend to replace Beth Meyerand’s position and will do an internal search this spring. He was pleased by the large number (54) of Graduate Student Outstanding Mentoring Award applications received.
Tamara Walker, Academic Technology Director, and Ruben Mota, ADA coordinator, shared background on the digital accessibility project. It is required as part of an update to the ADA and applies to public higher education. The deadline to be compliant is April 24, 2026. There is an initial communication being sent to faculty and instructional staff this week about the project. There are tools that are available in Canvas to assist instructors, and they are working on a website scanning tool to identify issues.
Chancellor Mnookin indicated that President Jay Rothman has named Eric Wilcots as the interim chancellor beginning May 17. She has already started having conversations with Dean Wilcots about ensuring an effective transition. The Provost search will continue to move forward with all candidates visiting campus next week. The permanent provost will help select the interim dean of the College of Letters and Science. The search for the Dean of the School of Nursing is also moving forward with finalists coming to campus next month.
In regard to RISE, they plan to announce a HQ for RISE Earth very soon. They are getting close to having something to release on the funding from Act 15. Regarding federal immigration activity, the campus wants to maintain privacy for students, staff and faculty and create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. There is significant work happening in this area, and more information will soon be available on a website.
Lori Reesor, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, said about 37% of students have disclosed their vaccination status so far. They have until mid-March to do this. There are reminders in Canvas and a slide that instructors can use. The UC raised concerns coming from international students regarding the difficulty in complying with this mandate in such a short time.
Student affairs is working with ASM regarding Open Seat. There are segregated fees that go to Open Seat. Vice Chancellor Reesor indicated that ASM could fund a position for Open Seat through reserve funding and that Dean of Students Olstad has requested a permanent position on 101 funding.
The University Committee reviewed the tenure clock extension guidance document. It will be made available to UC members to review tenure clock extension requests.
The University Committee discussed the March Senate agenda. They received a revised resolution regarding immigration agents on campus as well as legal advice. They decided to delay the resolution for a month so they could adequately review these two documents given how complicated the issues involved are.
Sara McKinnon and Janet Branchaw, co-chairs, of the Ad Hoc Undergraduate Education Committee, reviewed the deliverables from the committees work this past fall. A next step is to work on forming a new shared governance committee to oversee undergraduate education. The current general education committee is under the College of Letters and Science and is no longer a good fit for some of the broader conversations and decisions that need to be made about CGER. While the new committee is being formed, Sara and Janet asked the UC along with the Provost to issue a new charge to the ad hoc committee so they can continue working on issues related to CGER.
Bernard-Donals motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(a)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers and a grievance at 4:08 pm. Two tenure clock extensions were approved.
Mathieu motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 4:21 pm.
The University Committee directed UC chair Jones and Secretary Daniels to follow up with the chair of the Department of Extension regarding possible next steps to move forward a discussion on Extension being able to hire tenure track faculty.
Jones adjourned the meeting at 4:27 pm.
Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.