University Committee Meeting Minutes 2022-08-29

Minutes for August 29, 2022

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Li, Papp (chair), Tejedo-Herrero, Zweibel

Others: Sue Babcock, Patricia Carroll, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Annie Lisowski, Ruth Schriefer

Chair Papp called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

The minutes for the meeting of August 22, 2022, were approved with a correction.   

Chair Lauren Papp reported on a conversation she and Secretary Heather Daniels had with Greg Steinberger from Hillel. It was a wide-ranging conversation with a request that the University Committee encourage the university to name a responsible unit for religious observances.

Secretary Daniels announced that Julie Scharm will be joining her office as Deputy Secretary of the Faculty. There is a new senate rostering and attendance system that will be going live. She also reminded the UC that the UW Police Department offered a seat to a faculty member nominated by the University Committee. The UC agreed to discuss possibilities during their next closed session.

The committee discussed a letter from members of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) about concerns with the grievance process. It was not clear from the letter whether there were general concerns or whether concerns were about a particular case, which the UC is not at liberty to discuss. Chair Papp agreed to write a response.

Carey McAndrews and Patrick Kaas discussed the Campus Transportation Committee report. The department was recently reaccredited. During the pandemic, remote work had implications on how parking and transportation was used on campus. Parking and transportation expanded its offerings during the pandemic. There is a new program offering reduced parking costs for low income and professional and graduate students.

Paul Seitz, Director of Strategic Initiatives, discussed upcoming plans for the west campus district. They have selected a consultant to work on the project and will be holding two feedback sessions for the campus and community. Needs identified at this end of campus include parking and research space, including partnership and incubation space.

Karl Scholz, Provost, discussed automatic admissions, which was a topic at the Board of Regents meeting. Idaho and Hawaii are two states that are doing this, and it seems to have a positive effect in increasing applications by 3-4%. The Regents seem interested in the idea, but are unlikely to apply it to UW-Madison. UW-Madison, LaCrosse and Eau Claire are the three campuses that don’t have open admissions.

The incoming class is just under 8700 students and the most diverse class ever with 14% of students from under-represented groups. The large class is due to an increase in the yield rate.

Fernando Tejedo-Herrero, Michael Bernard-Donals and Lauren Papp talked with Allison LaTarte from APIR (Academic Planning and Institutional Research) to discuss the policy question posed by the Department of Extension faculty. Because Extension remains a department because there are faculty in it, there is no need for a UAPC approval. UAPC approval would be needed for an immediate change to the department.

Papp motioned, and it was seconded, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers at 2:36. One leave of absence, one tenure clock extension, and two dual roles were approved.

Papp motioned to reconvene in open session at 2:47. It was seconded and approved.

Papp adjourned the meeting at 3:12.