Faculty Senate Minutes 2026-02-02
Minutes for February 2, 2026
Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. with 170 voting members present (105 needed for quorum). Memorial resolutions were offered for Professor Emeritus Kim Nilsson (Faculty Document 3280), Professor Emeritus Ronald L. Numbers (Faculty Document 3281), Professor Emeritus Marvin Fruth (Faculty Document 3282) and Professor Emerita Marion P. Meyer (Faculty Document 3283).
Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen shared that Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin will be leaving UW–Madison after the conclusion of the spring semester to become the next president of Columbia University. Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman will appoint an interim chancellor in the near future, and the Board of Regents will launch a search for a permanent replacement later this year. Searches are in progress for the provost, Wisconsin Public Media director, dean of nursing, vice provost for enrollment management, and dean of the new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence. None of the searches will be disrupted by the chancellor transition.
In relation to Act 15, an ad hoc committee was formed to think through the high-level mapping of general education requirements to the new core general education requirements at the UW System level. In addition, the committee identified pain points and concerns associated with the new direction and in implementation. The UW System instructional workload policy was recently released, and a campus policy is being developed in consultation with various partners. Act 15 allocated $27 million to the Universities of Wisconsin to attract faculty in high demand areas. UW–Madison will receive a portion of those funds and will develop plans on how to allocate them.
Professor Annie Jones, University Committee chair, shared reflections on uncertain and challenging times and the shared need for communication, community and support and recognized Black History Month. The University Committee will hold a faculty town hall on instructional workload and other topics on Monday, February 23, 2026.
During the question period, several faculty senators asked questions and expressed concerns about potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration agents on campus. Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen and Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs Nancy Lynch clarified information and shared additional guidance at: https://legal.wisc.edu/contacts-law-enforcementgov-attorney/ and https://iss.wisc.edu/. A faculty senator inquired about how the University Committee will represent faculty as stakeholders in the selection of a new chancellor. Professor Annie Jones, University Committee chair, shared that there can be one faculty member on the search and screen committee, and the University Committee will provide input on potential members.
The minutes of the December 1, 2025 meeting were approved by consent.
Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen presented the Campus Planning Committee annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3275) and the University Academic Planning Council report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3276). Professor Mahua Dey (Neurological Surgery, district 101) presented the Campus Diversity and Climate Committee annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3284). Professor Leema Berland (Curriculum and Instruction, district 27) presented the Committee for Women in the University annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3285). Professor Amy Trentham-Dietz (Population Health Sciences, district 99) presented the University Libraries Committee annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3286). Professor Natalia de Leon, University Committee member, presented the candidates for faculty-elected committees for spring 2026 (Faculty Document 3287). Professor Annie Jones, University Committee chair, presented the University Committee and Faculty Senate annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3255). There were no questions on these reports.
Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen presented the proposal to create the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (Faculty Document 3288). The goal is to have a leading college in the areas of computing and artificial intelligence, data science and information science, and a campus hub for conversations about artificial intelligence and computing technology. Faculty senators asked questions and shared comments regarding the environmental impacts of data centers, budget impacts of a new college and the need for a focus on student learning outcomes and success. Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen shared that these items are being discussed and carefully considered, both now and when the new college leadership and governance is in place.
Professor Michael Bernard-Donals, University Committee member, presented a first reading of the 2030-2031 academic calendar (Faculty Document 3289) and a first reading of the proposal to amend the academic calendar for 2027-2028 (Faculty Document 3070 revised 2). A vote on these items is anticipated at the March Faculty Senate meeting.
Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen adjourned the meeting at 5:04 p.m.
Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty