University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-01-26
Minutes for February 2, 2026
UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Chui, de Leon, Jones, Kendall, Mathieu
Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Genevieve Lambert, Sabine Martin, Mallory Musolf, Jennifer Noyes, Julie Scharm
Chair Jones called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.
Patrick Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer, shared there will be changes regarding international remote work. This is currently allowed by approval of the supervisor. The change will be that it is no longer allowed unless needed because of the position. Sabbaticals, research, and short-term periods of international remote work for caretaking of family abroad will continue to be allowed. This change is being made due to risks and challenges in the areas of cybersecurity, foreign data laws, employment law, taxes and benefit obligations. International remote work may become available through a temporary employment agency at some future point.
He also shared that UW-Madison is not planning to implement 9 over 12 or spread pay. The program takes 40% of compensation off the top that is treated as deferred compensation and paid over the summer months. Other institutions who have implemented this in Workday have switched course and are no longer offering it. Approximately 800 UW System employees are using it this year. This is also an audit risk with the program regarding sponsored projects and effort reporting. The University Committee agreed with this decision.
Mahua Dey, Audrey Cramer, and Camren Livermore, who serve as co-chairs of the Campus Diversity and Climate Committee, presented the committee’s annual report. They have been discussing concrete ways that can be done to support a healthy climate for everyone on campus and are looking to do things that matter to the campus community. They have been keeping up with big strategic initiatives and contributing their thoughts and ideas.
The minutes from January 12, 2026, meeting were approved.
The University Committee is planning two town halls this spring. One on February 23 from 3:30-5 and another on April 13 from 4-5. The topic for the first town hall will be instructional workload.
The University Committee provided suggestions for topics for upcoming University Research Council meetings including allocation of OVCR research funds between the divisions, campus AI policy in research, and concerns regarding funding from DoD and DHS.
The University Committee reviewed and approved the Faculty Senate agenda.
Bill Karpus, Dean of the Graduate School, said that application numbers for admissions are similar to those a year ago, which includes a higher number of domestic applicants and lower number of international applicants. This is consistent with our Big Ten peers. The University Committee requested that Dean Karpus send information out to graduate programs offering guidance about what options graduate programs have to deal with visas issues and late admissions from waitlisted applicants.
John Zumbrunnen, Interim Provost, was joined by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. Chancellor Mnookin expressed her appreciation to the University Committee. She said the provost search is progressing, and she will pick a permanent provost before leaving for Columbia. They are close to releasing the strategic framework, which is conceptually big and broad. They are moving ahead with programming for the Wisconsin Exchange.
Interim Provost Zumbrunnen shared that the UW System has released their instruction workload policy, and there were no surprises. The ad hoc committee is meeting twice in the coming weeks to review drafts of the campus policy. The first priority for departments and programs will be to make sure they are meeting group instruction needs. They plan to talk with the department chairs at the Leadership Breakfast on February 17 and do some stress testing with that group. He will also share details with the Faculty Senate in February and then again in March. After a campus policy is in place, there will be school/college policies and department policies that follow.
In the area of general education, the ad hoc committee produced its recommendations and included a list of concerns. The recommendations were approved by the UAPC and University Curriculum Committee. There will be a lot of department work that needs to be done, and schools/colleges may wish to reconsider their degree requirements.
He also shared that they are close to putting together a search and screen committee for the dean of the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence as well as an overlapping faculty advisory group.
Chui motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss committee appointments at 2:36 pm.
Bernard-Donals motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 3:04 pm.
The University Committee reviewed next steps in working on areas they identified in their annual planning exercise.
Jones adjourned the meeting at 3:50 pm.
Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.