January 27, 2014

Present: Bernard-Donals, Cook, Fair, Farrar Edwards, Meyerand, Petty

The meeting began at 1:04 p.m.

1. The minutes of the meeting of January 22, 2014 (Document 130445) were approved as disseminated.

2. Updates and announcements 

A subcommittee was formed to work on the issue of classified staff representation on Chapter 6 committees.  Mark, Beth and Michael agreed to serve.

3. Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration— Darrell Bazzell presented information regarding policies and practices related to “indirects” generated from grants.  He also distributed a “white paper” on changing the campus budget model for discussion at  a later meeting.

4. Provost Update—Provost DeLuca provided information the status of the Art Institute; the need for an campus ADA compliance offer; and classified research policies.

5. Chancellor Update—Chancellor Blank indicated that with regard to the budget “white paper,” she’s looking for feedback.  She would like to present the topic at the March Senate meeting and hopes to have a set of budget model options in May-June of this year.

The UC presented a revised timeline for VCR/DGS recommendations.  The goal is to present the recommendations for adoption at the April Senate meeting.

6. Lectures Committee Annual Report—David Hildner reported that Committee received a requests from a larger number of units than in the recent past. They discovered that they funded so many fall lectures; they didn’t have adequate funding for Spring Lectures and are working on ways to correct this problem. Overall they’ve had lower mean Lecture costs.

7. Faculty Compensation and Benefits Commission—Robert Hamers discussed the difficulty in obtaining the necessary salary data which would allow the commission to meet its charge.  Various strategies and suggestions were offered to try to obtain the necessary information. 

8. Motion to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss personnel matters was approved.

9. Meeting reconvened to Open Session at 4:08

10. MOOCS —Jeff Russell and Linda Jorn offered an update on MOOCs as an educational innovation.  Phase I was very helpful and program staff learned a great deal.  Phase II has the support of the Chancellor.  MOOCs seen as an important outreach tool; they bring together local, state and global people and communities who want to come together to discuss an issue.  Jeff would like to present a MOOC update at the March 3 Senate meeting.

The also reported that a new advisory group “TLT MAG” concerned with the intersection of technology, teaching and learning.  It is not a governance group.

11. Tuition Report-Steve Cramer provided an overview of his committee’s report to the Senate.

12. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

William A. Heiss, M.S.S.W.

Interim Secretary of the Faculty