University Committee Meeting Minutes 2019-05-20
University Committee Meeting Minutes
Minutes approved 06/10/2019Approved Minutes for May 20, 2019 Approved June 10, 2019
UC members present: Amasino
(chair), Bowers, Ventura, Warfield, Wolf
Incoming UC members present:
Halverson, Sandgren
UC member absent: Campagnola
Others present (in addition to those
below): S. Smith, J. Richard, G. Elliott, M. Felber, J. Smith, H. Daniels
Chair Rick Amasino called his
last meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Terry Warfield reported on the most recent
UWS fac reps meeting, notably on dissatisfaction at UWW with the new chancellor
search policy. The minutes of the meeting of May 13, 2019, were approved. PROFS
lobbyist Jack O’Meara reported that JFC executive sessions continue. They
haven’t gotten to the UW part of the budget yet, but they did vote not to
increase funds to the Higher Ed Aid Board.
Employee Assistance Office Director
Sherry Boeger reported that an external vendor (Life Matters) has been
contracted in order to expand services. Campus will now have available a hybrid model
of on-campus staff (as currently) combined with 24/7 online, text and video,
counseling. Much discussion followed; Boeger will present to Senate in fall.
Vice Chancellor for Finance
and Administration Laurent Heller, accompanied by Allison La Tarte, Michael
Bernard-Donals, and Mark Walters discussed recent data on faculty compensation faculty compensation and the various tools (discretionary, bonus, block grant) we have to “move the
needle” on this data.
Discussion was extensive. Existing programs will continue to make some
progress, but need a major investment of additional faculty salary. Will ask
each school/college for a plan and then fund those initiatives with the goal of
eliminating half of salary gap (currently about $20M) in next year.
Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf bid
farewell with an update and discussion on one of the biggest issues her office
deals with: faculty investigations. Discussion was wide-ranging and included
endorsement of the possibility of creating a “team” of investigators so that
each investigation doesn’t involve the same steep learning curve.
Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs Lori Reesor reported on progress in developing a new organizational
structure for her office, here and here. Four
thematic units are replacing four structural units. Idea is that these will run
somewhat horizontally as well as vertically. For this coming year, governance
groups/elements are the same as before, but Reesor and UC discussed ways this
might evolve. Much discussion resulted in, inter alia, general agreement that
“identity and inclusion” category needs some shared governance input, which
could possibly come from existing SG groups. There was also a good deal of
discussion about how to best represent graduate students.
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 passed at 3:00 p.m. The UC considered and
unanimously approved one clock extension to accompany a leave of absence and
one dual role waiver, the latter for just one year rather than the longer
timeframe requested. Barb Bowers moved to reconvene in open session . The
motion was seconded and passed at 3:10 p. m., at which point Amasino and Bowers
said goodbye and the former adjourned the meeting.