University Committee Meeting Minutes 2017-04-17

Approved minutes for April 17, 2017  

UC members present: Amasino, Bowers, Broman, Litovsky (arrived 1:11), Wendt (chair)

UC member absent: Wanner

Others present: S. Smith, J. Richard, H. Daniels, J. O’Meara, M. Felber, A. Richards

Chair Amy Wendt called the meeting to order at 1:00 per the atomic clock and announced the results of the election for 2017-18 UC members. Minutes of the meeting of April 10, 2017, approved as amended. Jack O’Meara updated the UC on meetings with state assembly committee on universities and colleges on self-insurance. Ample discussion. O’Meara also provided updates on meetings around the state by the Joint Finance Committee, revenue projects, federal budget, and successful self-insurance forum (which will be available online). More discussion. The UC reviewed revised committee appointment authorities and agreed with the plan to move forward. Subsequent discussion about how to encourage more people to self-nominate. UC review of May Senate agenda is that everything seems good.

Associate Professor Ellen Samuels presented a resolution for the Faculty Senate on support for trans staff, faculty, and students. Samuels reviewed the situation in the state and on campus relating to health care and insurance issues, lawsuits, work by the UW-Madison GLBTQ issues committee and other governance groups, etc. Ample discussion about policy issues and national climate. Resolution crafted not to make policy recommendations but rather as general statement of support. UC endorses resolution and expects easy passage at Senate.

Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Marsha Mailick introduced her chief of staff, Andy Richards, who summarized the history of D2P (started in 2011; funding in 2013) and recent review led by him of mission, accomplishments, need. Funding from WARF ($2.4M in 2013; will run out this December) formalized the program, focusing on innovation and collaboration. There are many activities on campus, but clear need for coordination and assistance. Review group of faculty, staff, and affiliates (WARF, Waisman, Biochemistry, corporate partners, etc.) who have been through D2P and understand “entrepreneur space” looked at peers as well as resources on campus. Conclusion of the review was that D2P needs to return to original mission (from 2013/14), need for workshops and assistance, need to transition from “licensing” to really helping get things out into the world. At peer institutions, WARF-like entities play big part, as do alumni associations, schools of business and engineering, etc. Reviewed concluded that grant was helpful for individual startups, but distracted D2P from overall vision. Efficiencies to be gained by bringing D2P into OVCRGE as programmatic unit (like COI and accounting, for example) so that they have access to resources and gain stronger connections with day-to-day research. Ample discussion and questions.

Chief Information Officer Michael Lehman and co-chair of the Information Technology Committee Rafi Lazimy updated the UC on upcoming IT security policy and related matters. The draft security policy has been through several iterations and will go to ITC and IT steering committee next week. Ample discussion about risk executives, college/school/unit variation, and various aspects of the draft policy. Risk assessment will be done system by system, and periodically updated. Once completed, policy will come back to UC and then to Senate. Lehman indicated that once policy is approved, real journey of implementation begins. UC emphasized that faculty appreciate transparency throughout process.

Chief of Police Kristen Roman introduced herself and described her first 3 months on the job.  First new chief in decades and there have been some other major departures as well. Roman sees lots to build on and views the change as an opportunity. She has inherited a unit that is internally solid, comprises good individuals, and has a good relationship with campus generally. Her initiatives, still being defined, are all in line with where the department was already going. Ample discussion, including crime warnings, trust, internal communication and information sharing, and more. Top of Roman’s list is putting together some sort of advisory group (or groups). Doesn’t want to rush process and wants campus involvement; expects to have something by end of calendar year. Working closely with CDO, VCUR, Dean of Students, and others. UC stressed importance of including shared governance, especially students. Recruitment and retention, especially diversifying, also a priority for Roman, who will engage in strategic planning this summer. Health and wellness, ways to improve training, also on Roman’s list of priorities. Roman’s time with the UC concluded with discussions of Mifflin St and building construction.

Professor Nick Hillman discussed performance-based funding with the UC. Hillman, whose research focuses on higher education finance, summarized developments and moments of the past year or so. Performance-based/outcome-based funding is one of most popular trends lately; 32-35 states use some form for community colleges and/or university appropriations, with Ohio and Tennessee using it the most. PBF is associated with 1990s and early 2000s and more about bonus on top of base; OBF is cooked into base and OBF models are tied to state or system goals, although every state designs differently. Ample discussion, including possibilities of gaming system, comparison of models/institutions, and unintended consequences. Hillman stresses that most states do a rank order and base funding on that and he argues for flipping that around and encouraging UWS and legislature to focus on goal of improving performance, comparing against past performance rather than ranking. Hillman also makes point that prospective (incentive fund) is better approach than retrospective applications. In the end, PBF/OBF is something legislatures feel they have to do (reactive); there can be upsides, mainly around how we communicate what we do rather than improving performance. In terms of using it as a policy instrument to improve X, there does not seem to be much effect.

Bowers 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 3:16 p.m. The UC discussed a proposal to appoint an external chair for the Department of Theatre and Drama with School of Education Associate Dean Carolyn Kelley. Following Kelley’s presentation of the matter and a brief discussion, the UC unanimously approved the SOE proposal. The UC considered a clarification submitted in regards to a tenure clock extension considered previously; the clock extension waiver was approved unanimously. The UC reviewed and discussed a revised final report draft in response to a faculty grievance. Several changes were made to the document, which was then approved unanimously. The UC reviewed a separate faculty grievance and approved a response without objection. Litovsky moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 4:07 p.m., at which time Wendt adjourned the meeting.