Audio recording Chancellor Rebecca Blank called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. with 121 voting members present (109 needed for quorum). Chancellor Blank summarized responses and efforts relating to campus climate and recent incidents, including hiring of additional counselors, pilot of diversity and inclusiveness training modules, exploration of options for a Black Cultural Center, review and assessment of hate and bias reporting processes, a campuswide call for diversity initiatives, and compiling and making accessible the range of existing resources. She also provided updates on commencement and state government relations. Her priority is on maintaining a civil and useful conversation that clearly communicates the fact that we are a world-class university with world-class faculty, who are among the most important employees this state has. There were two comments during the question period, one on the impact of climate issues on untenured faculty of color in particular and the other on government relations.

Sherry Boeger (Human Resources) submitted for informational purposes the reports of the Ombuds and Employee Assistance offices (Faculty document 2620), highlighting the synergies and differences between them. There was one question on confidentiality. Assistant Professor Matthew Bakkom (District 25) submitted for informational purposes the annual report of the Archives Committee (Fac doc 2625). There were no questions or comments. Professor Beth Meyerand (Biomedical Engineering) submitted for informational purposes the annual report of the University Committee (Fac doc 2626). There were no questions or comments. Professor Judith Burstyn (District 48) presented the report of elections to faculty committees for 2016-2017 (Fac doc 2627). There were no questions or comments. Professor Parmesh Ramanathan (Electrical and Computer Engineering) submitted for informational purposes the annual report of the Advisory Committee for the Office of Equity and Diversity (Fac doc 2619). There were no questions or comments.

University Committee Chair Beth Meyerand moved adoption of Faculty Document 2615 (revised) to incorporate the University Research Council into Faculty Policies and Procedures. Associate Professor Noah Feinstein (District 18) moved to amend the document on behalf of the Committee on Committees to add “from a slate of nominees presented by the Committee on Committees” to the end of section A.1.b. The motion was seconded. Professor Tom Broman (District 120) moved to amend the amendment to modify the wording to “with input in the form of a slate of nominees presented by the Committee on Committees.” The motion was seconded. Several people spoke to the motion to amend the amendment. The motion to amend the amendment passed by a show of hands. Two comments were made on the amendment as amended. The amendment as amended passed unanimously by voice vote. The original motion as amended passed unanimously by voice vote.

Professor Meyerand moved adoption of Faculty Document 2616 (revised) to create a shared governance budget committee in Faculty Policies and Procedures and make related changes to dissolve the Budget Planning and Analysis Joint Subcommittee. There were no comments or questions. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

Professor Meyerand presented recommendations on the academic calendar for a first reading (Fac doc 2632). There were several questions and comments, which will be taken into account prior to this matter being brought to the Senate for a vote in the fall.

Professor Meyerand moved adoption of a revised version of the Values Statement on Shared Governance (Fac doc 2617) that was approved by the Senate in April 2016. The revised version incorporates amendments drafted by representatives of all four governance groups. There were no comments or questions. Adoption of the revised statement passed unanimously by voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:27 p.m.

 

Steven K. Smith

Secretary of the Faculty