Minutes for August 26, 2019
approved September 9, 2019
 

UC members present: Campagnola, Halverson, Sandgren, Ventura, Warfield (chair), Wolf

Others present (in addition to those mentioned below): S. Smith, H. Daniels, B. Tischler, J. Richard, M. Aust, J. Lucas

Chair Terry Warfield called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Eric Sandgren 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 1:02 p.m. The UC and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Laurent Heller discussed various searches and specific applications of search policies. The UC considered and approved the 2^nd year of a faculty leave of absence and nominated a faculty member for the Memorial Library Committee. Erica Halverson moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 1:40 p.m.

The UC confirmed its endorsement of the revisions to the new guidelines on departments and non-departmental academic units, clearing it for confirmation/endorsement by the UAPC. The UC also supported moving forward with a resolution noting the 125^th anniversary of “sifting and winnowing” at the October Senate meeting, along the lines of the draft created for the Assembly. The minutes of the meeting of August 19, 2019, were approved.

Extension faculty members Paul Roback, Ruth Schriefer, and Kirsten Krokowski and Extension Secretary of the Faculty and Academic Staff Andrea Cool discussed at great length with the UC the topic of Extension faculty taking on academic staff positions. Issues under consideration in this context are multiple and include whether positions should or should not be created as academic staff positions, levels of responsibility, faculty voice in determining organizational needs and changes as well as in programming, and much more. The issue of where program/curriculum development occurs is key and faculty have been excluded from this. APC presents excellent opportunity to reinsert faculty voice where it belongs. This discussion concluded due to lack of time, but will be revisited.

College of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson asked for assistance in addressing teaching effectiveness. Discussion covered a gamut of both “carrots” and “sticks”; all agreed that more work is needed. Mentoring and other existing efforts are all well and good, but what to do about intractable cases is still a problem. Criteria in PTR and promotion to full are being reviewed and this is an area for potential solutions. Meanwhile, existing tools (discipline, reassignment, remediation, etc.) have their limits. Hard to put too much emphasis on solutions at department level since they have few resources and different incentives. More emphasis on promotion to criteria and support of division-based “centers” would be helpful. More explicit guidance on disciplinary and quasi-disciplinary actions would also be helpful. The UC strongly recommended supporting the Teaching Academy and helping it to be less marginalized and better funded.

Chancellor Becky Blank previewed the New Faculty Welcome and picnic, the upcoming Leadership “breakfast,” convocation, and the first football game. Blank also reported on developments in the VCRGE search and distributed copies of this year’s Big Read (Poison Squad). Some discussion ensued. She also reported on summer term, which has exceeded expectations and goals over last 4 years, and the working group on visas described by Interim Provost Henderson a few weeks ago. Some discussion about Athletics and 9-over-12 salary payments.