Faculty Senate Minutes 2026-03-02
Minutes for April 6, 2026
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. with 170 voting members present (104 needed for quorum). Memorial resolutions were offered for Dean Emeritus Howard Martin (Faculty Document 3290), Professor Emeritus Richard Bruce Bilder (Faculty Document 3291), Professor Emeritus William Lawrence Church (Faculty Document 3292) and Professor Emerita Elizabeth Roberts (Faculty Document 3293).
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin shared that with her departure at the conclusion of the spring semester, College of Letters and Science Dean Eric Wilcots will serve as interim chancellor. An interim College of Letters and Science dean will be appointed, and the Universities of Wisconsin is in the planning stages for the permanent chancellor search.
Herb Kohl Philanthropies announced a pledge to extend the late Senator Herb Kohl’s support of UW–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs with an historic $30 million lead private gift. The gift will support programming and renovations to UW–Madison’s Music Hall, which will serve as La Follette’s future home under the new name of Herb Kohl Hall. This will enable La Follette students, staff and faculty to come together to learn, collaborate and engage. Herb Kohl Hall is expected to open in 2029.
UW–Madison announced a new policy that requires students to share their vaccination status to more quickly prevent the potential spread of several common communicable diseases, including measles.
Act 15 allocated $27 million to the Universities of Wisconsin to attract and retain tenure-track faculty in high demand fields. UW–Madison received a portion of those funds and is developing allocation plans. The legislature earmarked an additional $2 million for UW–Madison for diversity of thought in faculty hiring. A faculty steering committee, engaged with key deans, is developing ideas on how best to use those funds through regular faculty hiring processes to build expertise in key areas around campus.
In regards to immigration and the risk of federal enforcement, the university does not provide information on the immigration status of students, faculty or staff unless clearly compelled to do so by law. Similarly, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Police Department does not participate in federal immigration enforcement actions. Should there be contact with a federal agent within any campus facilities or workspaces, call the Office of Legal Affairs at 608-263-7400 to speak with a university attorney for guidance. The number is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available online at: https://news.wisc.edu/federal-immigration-activity/.
Ongoing leadership position searches include the provost, College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence dean, School of Nursing dean, Wisconsin Public Media director, and vice provost for enrollment management.
Professor Annie Jones, University Committee chair, shared reflections on uncertain and challenging times and the shared need for bridge-building, community and support. The University Committee will hold another faculty town hall on Monday, April 13, 2026. The University Committee submitted feedback on the UW System proposed copyright policy in February 2026, which was sent to senators and alternates.
Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen shared that the draft UW–Madison instructional workload policy includes a set of definitions related to implementing Act 15, a list of the minimum instructional workload requirements established by Act 15 and a set of exceptions and adjustments that follow either the legislation itself or the Regents policy document. It is crucial for UW–Madison to have an instructional workload policy that reflects the full range of work carried out by the faculty and instructional academic staff to remain a leading research university that offers world class learning experiences in the classroom and beyond. Another crucial principle is that UW–Madison is a broad and incredibly varied academic enterprise, and the instructional workload policy needs to allow for flexibility and variation at the discipline and program level, while still meeting the requirements of Act 15. There will be additional reporting activities related to Act 15; however, the university is working on processes to minimize administrative burden.
During the question period, several faculty senators asked questions and provided comments about the instructional workload policy including the counting of credits. Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen responded to these questions. Further work will need to be done at the school/college and perhaps department levels to provide additional guidance and clarification.
The minutes of the February 2, 2026 meeting were approved by consent.
Professor Bikash Pattnaik (Pediatrics, district 96) presented the Immigration and International Issues Committee annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3263). Professor Michael Bernard-Donals, University Committee member and PROFS president, presented the PROFS annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3278). Professor Bernie Lesieutre (Electrical and Computer Engineering, district 36) presented the Campus Transportation Committee annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3294). Professor Kathryn Sanchez (Spanish and Portuguese, district 73) presented the Committee on Disability Access and Inclusion annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3295). Professor John Hall (History, district 60) presented the Officer Education Committee annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3296). Professor Emerita Susan Ellis Weismer presented the Ombuds Office annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3297). Professor Bradley Bolling (Food Science, district 11) presented a report on establishing the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Faculty Document 3298). A faculty senator provided a comment on the EB-1B visa, which is an employment-based green card for internationally recognized outstanding professors and researchers, and the university being restrictive in allowing this. Professor Bikash Pattnaik, Immigration and International Issues Committee co-chair, shared this is important to consider in the hiring and retaining of top talent, and the committee would further discuss this.
Professor Michael Bernard-Donals, University Committee member, moved approval of the academic calendar for 2030-2031 (Faculty Document 3289). The motion was approved.
Professor Michael Bernard-Donals, University Committee member, moved approval of the proposal to amend the academic calendar for 2027-2028, moving the fall 2027 academic calendar dates to alleviate final exams ending and grading occurring close to or during state holidays, thereby moving classes to begin on September 2, 2027, the earliest date allowed by state law and moving the start of the faculty contract a week earlier (Faculty Document 3070 revised 2). The motion was approved.
Professor Robert Mathieu, University Committee member, presented a first reading of the proposal to Amend Faculty Policies & Procedures 10.05 Layoff or Termination Educational Considerations to clarify business or calendar day deadlines (Faculty Document 3299). Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) presented a first reading of the resolution to ensure educational continuity for members of the UW-Madison community affected by the violence of federal immigration agents (Faculty Document 3300). A vote on these items is anticipated at the April Faculty Senate meeting.
Several faculty senators and an academic staff member asked questions and expressed concerns about potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration agents on campus, and on Flock cameras used on campus, and offered feedback on the resolution for consideration in potential revisions, including clarifying sections of the resolution where existing policy already exists.
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin adjourned the meeting at 5:16 p.m.
Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty