Proposed Resolution of the UW-Madison Faculty Senate

Whereas, in 1848, the citizens of Wisconsin recognized that public higher education is a worthwhile

investment in the public interest of the State and have since invested billions of their hard-earned dollars in

creating one of the finest university systems in the world; and

 

Whereas, “academic freedom is the freedom to discuss and present scholarly opinions and conclusions

regarding all relevant matters in the classroom, to explore all avenues of scholarship, research, and creative

expression, and to reach conclusions according to one's scholarly discernment. It also includes the right to

speak or write – as a private citizen or within the context of one’s activities as an employee of the university

– without institutional discipline or restraint on matters of public concern as well as on matters related to

professional duties, the functioning of the university, and university positions and policies” (Faculty Policies

and Procedures 8.01.B.); and

 

Whereas, in 1894, the Board of Regents proclaimed that "Whatever may be the limitations that trammel

inquiry elsewhere, we believe that the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that

continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found”; and

 

Whereas, in 1964, the Board of Regents wrote “In adopting this codification of the rules and regulations of

the University of Wisconsin relating to tenure, the Regents reaffirm their historic commitment to security of

professorial tenure and to the academic freedom it is designed to protect. These rules and regulations are

promulgated in the conviction that in serving a free society the scholar must himself be free. Only thus can he

seek the truth, develop wisdom and contribute to society those expressions of the intellect that ennoble

mankind. The security of the scholar protects him not only against those who would enslave the mind but also

against anxieties, which divert him from his role as scholar and teacher. The concept of intellectual freedom

is based upon confidence in man's capacity for growth in comprehending the universe and on faith in

unshackled intelligence. The university is not partisan to any party or ideology, but it is devoted to the

discovery of truth and to understanding the world in which we live. The Regents take this opportunity to

rededicate themselves to maintaining in this university those conditions which are indispensable for the

flowering of the human mind”; and

 

Whereas, UW System’s universities are devoted to the search for truth, which underlies every purpose of the

UW system. These purposes include the development of human resources, the discovery and dissemination

of knowledge and the extension and application of such knowledge everywhere within the borders of the state

and beyond; and

 

Whereas, Omnibus Motion #521, passed by the Joint Committee on Finance on May 29, 2015, contains in

item 39 the following language that would redefine tenure, “Specify that the board may layoff or terminate a

tenured faculty member, or layoff or terminate a probationary faculty member prior to the end of his or her

appointment, when such an action is deemed necessary due to a budget or program decision requiring

program discontinuance, curtailment, modification, or redirection,” thereby eviscerating the fundamental

protections of academic freedom afforded by tenure and negating recognized tenure provisions followed by

all major US universities, including our peers; and

 

Whereas, Omnibus Motion #521, passed by the Joint Committee on Finance on May 29, 2015, contains in

item 39 the following language redefining shared governance such that “the budget or program decisions

made to discontinue, curtail, modify, or redirect a program would not be subject to review in the hearing” by

the faculty hearing committee; and

 

Whereas, Omnibus Motion #521, passed by the Joint Committee on Finance on May 29, 2015, contains in

item 35 language redefining shared governance such that “the faculty of each institution would have the

primary responsibility for advising the Chancellor regarding academic and educational activities and

faculty personnel matters subject to the responsibilities and powers of the Board, President and Chancellor”

[emphasis added] as opposed to deciding such matters as under current law; and

 

Whereas, Omnibus Motion #521, passed by the Joint Committee on Finance on May 29, 2015, contains in

item 38 language redefining shared governance such that “with regard to the responsibilities of the faculty,

academic staff, and students of each institution, ‘subject to’ means ‘subordinate to’”; and

 

Whereas, regent and system policy cannot supersede state statute; and

 

Whereas, if adopted, such statutory legislative language would conflict with any regent or institutional

policies recognizing tenure and shared governance principles that would be recognized as adequate by the

American Association of University Professors; and

 

Whereas, if adopted, the proposed language will lead to the demoralization and/or departure of substantial

numbers of faculty, will have negative repercussions for recruiting outstanding new faculty, and will

seriously damage UW‐Madison’s national competitiveness and the faculty’s ability to grow the economic

future of the state and to serve its students and its citizens, preventing the accomplishment of its primary

mission through the Wisconsin Idea; and

 

Whereas, erosion of the quality of the faculty and the university’s national and international reputation will

diminish the value of a University of Wisconsin degree, and its instructional, research and outreach

excellence; and

 

Whereas, the faculty condemn any changes to the university’s tenure and shared governance policies that are

inconsistent with those of our peers or with general professional standards.

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison calls on the

Joint Committee on Finance and/or State Legislature to strike all non‐fiscal language contained in Omnibus Motion #521 from the Omnibus Bill.

 

Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison calls on President

Ray Cross to use all means at his disposal to call on the Joint Committee on Finance and/or State Legislature

to strike all non‐fiscal language contained in Omnibus Motion #521 from the Omnibus Bill.

 

Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison calls on the Board of

Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to use all means at its disposal to call on the Joint Committee

on Finance and/or State Legislature to strike all non‐fiscal language contained in Omnibus Motion #521 from

the Omnibus Bill.

 

Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison calls on Chancellor

Rebecca Blank of the University of Wisconsin‐Madison to use all means at her disposal to call on the Joint

Committee on Finance and/or State Legislature to strike all non‐fiscal language contained in Omnibus

Motion #521 from the Omnibus Bill.

Ample discussion followed.