UC members present: Amasino (chair), Bowers, Campagnola, Ventura, Warfield, Wolf (arr: 1:35 pm)

Others present: S. Smith, J. Richard, J. Smith, H. Daniels 

Chair Rick Amasino called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Laurent Heller and the UC discussed whether the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee should continue as a quasi-official shared governance committee appointed through the governance bodies or move more directly under the administrative purview of FP&M (while maintaining a shared governance composition). Consensus was the latter; Heller will take back to David Darling. Heller introduced new AVC for Finance David Murphy in absentia and described his role. Heller also discussed the new protest guidelines, admitting that rollout was not as inclusive of governance as hoped for, but pointing out that this is a living document that will evolve so there is still opportunity for feedback. The VCFA reported on BoR discussions around a new UWS draft policy on personnel files, sexual misconduct investigations, and reference checks. UW-Madison will develop its own policies on personnel files and reference checks, while UWS will develop policies for the other campuses. Much discussion ensued. Governance will be deeply involved in development of this, to be previewed at October BoR and due before end of calendar year.

Secretary of the Faculty Steve Smith called attention to two items relating to UWEX for review: a draft charge for a working group on faculty issues and a draft resolution on tenure recognition for a first reading at the October Faculty Senate. Terry Warfield, Smith, and Jack O’Meara provided an update on the draft UWS policy on productivity and course elimination. The minutes of the meetings of August 27, 2018, and September 10, 2018, were approved, the latter with changes. Jack O’Meara followed up on the new productivity and course elimination policy being developed by UW System, indicating that UWS says this is still very much a draft and nothing has been finalized. O’Meara also reported on the UWS budget request, bonding and capital, Chemistry building groundbreaking, and the fact that PROFS will join the Big10 voting challenge. The UC reviewed the draft Faculty Senate agenda and materials for October, moving some items to November.

Warfield moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters. The motion was seconded and passed at 2:22 p.m. The UC approved one tenure clock extension and one dual role waiver, with a caveat on the latter about funding. The UC approved advancing a nomination to the Campus Planning Committee “environmental issues” seat. There was also discussion about leadership of a Ch. 6 committee and a possibly related HIB matter. Wolf moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 3:02 p.m. 

Vice Chancellor for University Relations Charlie Hoslet, accompanied by State Relations Director Ben Miller, discussed the state budget request and related messaging. Miller also directed attention to budget.wisc.edu/toolkit, which is a new resource on the budget process. Dean of the Graduate School Bill Karpus reported on the appointment of Florence Hsia as the new Associate Vice Chancellor for Arts & Humanities, which includes formally serving as an associate dean in the Graduate School. He also reported that the graduate student tracking system has been funded by the chancellor’s office. This new resource will consolidate several things to better serve advisors, graduate students, and graduate program coordinators, as well as faculty. This three-year project is an essential component of automating degree auditing. Karpus also reported that the McNair scholars program has been moved to DDEEA, which already houses two other similarly funded programs and is the more synergistic and structurally logical place to host it. The UC and Karpus discussed the GFEC 2017-18 report, which will go to the Senate in November or December. Karpus and the UC concluded with some discussion about future graduate student support. Amasino adjourned the meeting at 3:41 p.m.