1. The functions of the University Committee (UC) are established in FPP 6.54.B.
2. The UC meets weekly during the fall and spring semesters and as needed throughout the summer and during the winter and spring breaks. The UC chair decides on meeting times, traditionally all afternoon on Mondays. Four members constitute a quorum. Members may join a meeting via Zoom or other method that allows for them to hear the proceedings and participate.
3. The meeting agenda is prepared by the UC chair with the assistance of the secretary of the faculty and distributed to committee members in advance of the meeting. Members of the UC may place items on the agenda by submitting a written or oral request to the chair in advance of the posting of the agenda. Materials for the meeting are normally distributed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
4. The Office of the Secretary of the Faculty provides support to the UC. The secretary of the faculty attends all UC meetings and maintains committee records.
5. Decisions of the UC are made by consensus or, if formal votes are taken, by majority rule. Formal votes are recorded in the minutes. The committee may include minority views in its written communications. UC members are free to express minority views individually either in writing or orally.
6. The chancellor, provost, vice chancellor for finance and administration, vice chancellor for student affairs, dean of the graduate school and vice chancellor for research have a standing invitation to attend the sessions of the UC meetings and may present items of interest to the committee.
7. Items are generally discussed by the entire committee; however, the UC may decide to appoint subcommittees to investigate agenda items and/or prepare draft reports to bring before the committee as a whole. The UC may also hold town hall or feedback sessions on specific topics, at the discretion of the committee.
8. The UC chair for the coming year is elected by the committee members in the spring semester. The chair assumes duties on June 1, the starting date of the new committee. Normally, the incoming chair will be in the final year of the three-year term of service.
9. The UC chair and/or secretary of the faculty conducts an orientation session for new UC members prior to their term start date.
10. The UC discusses annual planning at a regular meeting after June 1, the starting date of the new committee. The committee: 1) discusses its operating procedures for the coming year; 2) discusses committee assignments; 3) establishes the role and expectations for committee members; 4) reviews the chair selection procedure to be followed in the spring; 5) identifies and sets priorities for initiatives.
11. According to the bylaws of PROFS, Inc., and faculty document 262(a), the members of the UC serve as the PROFS Board of Directors, and as such, are responsible for overseeing the activities of the PROFS Steering Committee. Because PROFS is not a governance body and thus not subject to the same open meetings and public records requirements as the UC, PROFS Board meetings are scheduled and conducted separately (but often just prior to or immediately after) UC meetings.
12. Pursuant to FPP 6.06.H., the UC appoints, subject to confirmation by the senate, appropriately qualified faculty to fill vacancies on elected faculty committees until the vacancies are filled at the next annual election. When a vacancy occurs on the University Committee, the Committee on Committees shall make the appointment.
13. The UC will select a current or previous member to serve as the campus representative to the UW System faculty group (“fac reps”) for at least a 3-year term. The Madison fac rep will make every effort to attend (in person or by phone) all fac reps and Board of Regents meetings. Every year, an alternate fac rep will be selected to attend meetings in the official fac rep’s absence. Should the alternate be unable to attend, the UC chair will represent UW-Madison. The fac rep will submit summaries of all meetings to the Secretary of the Faculty for distribution to the UC.

University Committee Member Assignments

Big Ten Academic Alliance Faculty Representative (one member)

Committee on Committees (two members)                                                        

Faculty Consultative Committee on Financial Emergency (two members)

PROFS Board of Directors (all members-some members may serve as officers for PROFS)

PROFS Steering Committee (three or more members)

Rule Waivers (two new members)

University Academic Planning Council (one member)

University Research Council (one member)

UW System Faculty Representative (one member and a backup)