University Committee Meeting Minutes 2018-01-29

Approved minutes for January 29, 2018          Approved February 5, 2018

UC members present: Amasino, Bowers, Litovsky (arrived 1:11), Ventura, Wanner (chair), Warfield

Others present: S. Smith, J. Richard, J. O’Meara, M. Mutty, M. Felber, H. Daniels, J. Smith, M. Aust, M. Mayrl, M. Walters, W. Guthrie

Chair Anja Wanner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Jack O’Meara reported that PROFS did issue a letter to JCER advocating for the pay play and noting that we remain behind our peers at the professor level. O’Meara also provided updates on the recent PROFS steering committee meeting, progress of the “Mark Cook” bill, the appointment of Alberta Darling to the higher education committee, and other legislative matters.

Athletic Board chair Peter Miller reported on campus protocols for student disciplinary issues that involve student athletes, particularly when there is an accusation of non-academic misconduct. Established campus policy clearly defines who participates in decisions (about discipline, but also immediate decisions about participation in athletic events, for example), reporting structure, timeline for decisions, steps to be taken, and so on. Miller reports that all coaches and Athletics generally are very responsive about SHSV and other safety issues, and take these matters very seriously. Discussion throughout. Miller also recommended to the UC that it seek applicants for the Board who (a) have financial experience, (b) have significant interaction with students, and (c) are diverse. Discussion about recent story on concussions and concussion safety more generally. UW-Madison is part of huge study on this topic, data from which is just starting to come in.

The University Committee discussed the best way to proceed with “shared governance committee review” idea. Consensus that simply reaffirming values is not enough; need to show how shared governance values have played out in the past and how shared governance decision-making has served us well (and why better than the alternative). Also consensus that the output document will need motivating preamble, but then transition to how SG is operationalized in various contexts. Following ample discussion, agreement to proceed as follows: OSOF will gather documentation and history, from FPP, UWS, and other sources; Wanner will talk to SG chairs about constituting committee of them or their designees, plus administration. The UC also reviewed the February 2018 Faculty Senate agenda and materials.

Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf discussed the creation of a new teaching award for service-learning-related teaching, as well as the possibility of increasing award values, which have not been adjusted in many years. The UC and Mangelsdorf discussed the library master plan and various responses to it. Acknowledgment that master plans are somewhat aspirational, but still many concerns about how this plan got developed and publicized. Mangelsdorf’s time with the UC concluded with a discussion about recent article about crowd-sourced harassment data. We recognize gaps in our reporting and tracking and policies and this is one more data point showing the need to act.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank followed up on sexual misconduct reporting about another campus and what we are doing on this campus. Compliance training was already excellent and got better with link to pay plan. Blank acknowledges much work to do, especially given decentralized nature of this institution. We need some confidential/anonymous method to file complaints and we cannot allow our rules to become an impediment to action. Blank would like to engage with UC and others to address these issues before the end of this semester. We need better reporting structure, more whistleblower protections, and more safeguards for those who come forward. Lots of discussion. Blank concluded with brief updates on state legislature, upcoming meeting with PRIME (high achieving high school) students, her taking women deans to women’s basketball game, Habitat for Humanity fundraising, dean reviews, and BoR meeting (hosted by Madison). 

Faculty members Sue Babcock and Chad Goldberg, Chief Human Resources Officer Wayne Guthrie, and OHR representatives Mark Walters and Mary Luther distributed three handouts [Career Path Levels and Level Descriptors, Job Families and Sub-Families with Definitions, and Jobframework] relating to the status of the Title and Total Compensation Study and provided an update thereon. Campus is currently in Phase II, creating the job titling framework. Next steps will include individual job descriptions and mapping them to the framework. About 3700 employees have participated in the creation of the framework. During February 2018, the framework will be formally reviewed by AS and US governance and vetted by HR and other stakeholders. There are 24 job families, including one now for faculty (who are not part of the study). A great deal of discussion occurred.

Terry Warfield 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 approved at 3:22 p.m. The UC considered and unanimously approved one dual role waiver request. Warfield moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and unanimously passed at 3:31 p.m., at which point Wanner adjourned the meeting.