Minutes for April 28, 2025

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Jones, Kendall, Li, Stein, Zweibel

Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Mallory Musolf, Charles Meyer, Julie Scharm, Dom Zappia 

Chair Li called the meeting to order at 1:01 pm.

Jones motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers at 1:02 pm. Two dual role waivers and two tenure clock extensions were approved.

Stein motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 1:20 pm.

There were further corrections to the minutes from April 14, 2025.

The University Committee discussed possible agenda items for their May 12 meeting due to a lack of guests. The University Committee approved Faculty Senate Operating Procedures with some minor modifications. Chair Li will announce these in her remarks at the Senate meeting on May 5, and they will be posted on the website. The UC reviewed the May 5 senate agenda.

Associate Vice Chancellor Cynthia Czajkowski shared the University Research Council annual report. This is the first time they have submitted a report. The committee has not met regularly during the last year due to leadership transitions. One of the things the committee does is review research centers. There is a meeting scheduled in early June. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research will be undergoing a strategic planning process.

Provost Charles Isbell indicated that the CIO search was wrapping up, and they planned to start the Vice Provost Enrollment Management search this summer. Percival Matthews was recently appointed as a special assistant to work on strategy in access and community.

The Provost and the UC discussed possible items to address in the next year. The UC suggested conversations about shared governance especially with school/college leadership, helping instructors with tips regarding pedagogy and instruction in divisive times, how research and teaching will be impacted by the federal changes, exploring what the bi-directional Wisconsin Idea means, and how we work on DEI on campus. They also discussed the growth of accommodation needs for students in classes.

The Provost also mentioned a group that was put together last May to explore the student experience for undergraduates at the campus level. They have been thinking about what it looks like to create a sense of belonging on campus.

Lauren Papp, co-chair of the Strategic Visioning Committee, shared that the 31-member committee had been working this spring semester to draft initial concepts to guide the university’s next strategic framework. UC member Annie Jones also serves on the committee. Initial concepts have been shared with the university community, and the committee has been collecting feedback from stakeholders both in person and online. They also sent a survey for feedback. The UC provided some feedback on the draft concepts.

Li adjourned the meeting at 3:08 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.