Faculty Senate Minutes 2026-04-06
Minutes for April 6, 2026
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. with 168 voting members present (104 needed for quorum). Memorial resolutions were offered for Professor Emeritus Stephen L. Barclay (Faculty Document 3301), Professor Emeritus Charles Daniel Cornwell (Faculty Document 3302), Professor Emerita Ann C. Palmenberg (Faculty Document 3303), Professor Emeritus Frank L. Siegel (Faculty Document 3304) and Professor Emeritus Chester Bruce Thomas (Faculty Document 3305).
The 2026 Hilldale Awards were presented to four faculty members representing each of the four divisions: Arts and Humanities Division: Professor Mimmi Fulmer (Music), Biological Sciences Division: Professor Ellen Wald (Pediatrics), Physical Sciences Division: Professor Miron Livny (Computer Sciences), Social Sciences Division: Professor Jon Pevehouse (Political Science).
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin shared that the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will hold a special virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., in closed session, to consider personnel action regarding the termination of UW System President Jay Rothman. Universities of Wisconsin Regents President Amy Bogost released a statement regarding this, available online at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/news/download/bor/STATEMENT-RegentPresidentBogost4.6.26.pdf.
Tia Nelson, an internationally recognized champion for environmental stewardship and conservation, who earned her bachelor of science degree in wildlife ecology from UW–Madison, will be granted an honorary degree at the commencement ceremony on May 8, 2026.
John Zumbrunnen was recently appointed as provost. Jordan Siegler was appointed as the Wisconsin Public Media executive director, and Christian Capitini was named the director of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.
Professor Annie Jones, University Committee chair, shared that when considering Faculty Senate resolutions, to consider richer conversations between shared governance and administration off of the Senate floor first, to build actionable resolutions that can be implemented in partnership. At their best, resolutions are the end result of discussion, collaboration and deliberation with the faculty, with members of the administration and with the University Committee or other shared governance bodies.
The University Committee will hold a virtual faculty town hall on Monday, April 13, 2026.
During the question period, faculty senators provided comments about the UW–Madison response to the Associated Students of Madison Resolution to Ensure UW Investments Comply with Wisconsin Anti-Discrimination Law passed on March 25, 2026, encouraging the need to create an environment where students are able to test arguments, take risks and voice their concerns.
The minutes of the March 2, 2026 meeting and the correction to the faculty contract start date in the academic calendar for 2027-2028 (Faculty document 3070 revised 3) were approved by consent.
Professor Stephanie Budge (Counseling Psychology, district 32) presented the LGBTQ+ Committee annual report for 2023-2025 (Faculty Document 3306). Professor Paul Peppard (Population Health Sciences, district 99) presented the Recreation and Wellbeing Advisory Board annual report for 2024-2025 (Faculty Document 3307). Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin presented the updated candidates for faculty-elected committees for spring 2026 (Faculty Document 3287 revised). There were no questions on these reports.
Professor Robert Mathieu, University Committee member, moved approval of the proposal to Amend Faculty Policies & Procedures 10.05 Layoff or Termination Educational Considerations to clarify business or calendar day deadlines (Faculty Document 3299). The motion was approved.
Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) moved approval of the Resolution to Ensure Educational Continuity for Members of the UW–Madison Community Affected by the Violence of Federal Immigration Agents (Faculty Document 3300 revised). The motion was seconded.
Professor Annie Jones, University Committee member, asked campus leadership to explain the complexities in some of the resolution clauses. Provost John Zumbrunnen shared that administration would need to work through the complexities of signage to ensure that any signs are placed appropriately, in the correct spaces and are monitored, and would need to have conversations about training to determine what information to share and the best way to make the information available, accessible and comprehensible to as many colleagues as possible. Regarding revising the procedures for requesting remote work and learning options to explicitly include the actions of federal immigration agents as a rationale for shifting modalities, administration would be reluctant to include any specific reasons or examples at the policy level. In addition, if there is a disruptive moment on campus, that would likely fall under workplace flexibility as opposed to remote work, which is a longer-term arrangement. For students, remote learning requests are processed through disability accommodations.
Professor Tim Donohue (Bacteriology, district 5) provided a comment that the therefore clause indicating deans and/or chairs revise procedures is not inclusive of units that do not report to deans or department chairs. Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) moved to amend the clause in the resolution from, “Be it further RESOLVED that the University of Wisconsin–Madison Faculty Senate proposes the administration, via Deans and/or Chairs, revise the procedures in place for requesting remote work and learning options to explicitly include the actions of federal immigration agents as a rationale for shifting modalities…” to “Be it further RESOLVED that the University of Wisconsin–Madison Faculty Senate proposes the administration, including via Deans and/or Chairs and/or Vice Chancellors, revise the procedures in place for requesting remote work and learning options to explicitly include the actions of federal immigration agents as a rationale for shifting modalities…” The motion was seconded and approved.
The body voted on the Resolution to Ensure Educational Continuity for Members of the UW–Madison Community Affected by the Violence of Federal Immigration Agents, as amended (Faculty Document 3300 revised 2). The motion was approved.
Professor Stephanie Budge (Counseling Psychology, district 32) presented a first reading of the proposal to amend Faculty Policies & Procedures 6.40 LGBTQ+ Committee to change the committee name to the LGBTQ+ Affairs Committee and to remove the chief diversity officer representative ex officio seat due to university structural changes (Faculty Document 3308).
Professor Sara McKinnon (Communication Arts, district 49) presented a first reading of the proposal to create a core general education requirements policy (Faculty Document 3309); faculty senators shared questions and comments for consideration.
At 5:09 p.m., the presiding officer changed from Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin to Professor Annie Jones, University Committee chair.
Professor Ralph Grunewald (English, district 55) presented a first reading of the proposal to create a student feedback on teaching and learning policy (Faculty Document 3310); a faculty senator shared questions and comments for consideration.
Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) presented a first reading of the Resolution on Mass Surveillance and Shared Governance at UW–Madison (Faculty Document 3311); faculty senators shared comments for consideration. University of Wisconsin Police Chief Bret Plisch is scheduled to attend the May Faculty Senate meeting to provide additional information on Flock Safety and respond to questions. A vote on the first reading items is anticipated at the May Faculty Senate meeting.
Professor Annie Jones adjourned the meeting at 5:33 p.m.
Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty