University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-08-17
Minutes for August 17, 2026
UC members present: de Leon, Haynes, Johnson, Kendall, Mathieu
Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Briana Goss, Becky Jacobs, Mallory Musolf, Jack O’Meara, Jen Oasen, Julie Scharm, Katie Stigler, Shannon Timm
Chair Kendall called the meeting to order at 1:01 pm.
The minutes for July 13, 2026, and August 3, 2026, were approved by consent.
Michelle Felber and Jack O’Meara from PROFS shared that they will be reaching out to the two Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates for meetings and they are keeping track of current legislative races.
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Rob Cramer shared information on the Operational Excellence Advancement Program, established to streamline and simplify processes and enhance administrative services. Currently, an operating model prototype focused on finance and human resources is being piloted with the School of Business, College of Engineering, and School of Veterinary Medicine to assess where functions should be housed between the local unit, LinkUW and a central system of specialists to handle unique or complicated matters.
The university is working with the Universities of Wisconsin and the Department of Administration to build a student housing facility or facilities to accommodate 1,500 to 2,000 beds on state-owned property near campus. Contractor proposals are currently under review.
Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall will open in the fall semester and house eight College of Letters and Science academic departments, programs and centers that are currently spread across five facilities on campus. These include African American Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano/a and Latina/o Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, History, Jewish Studies and Religious Studies.
Last week, the Wisconsin State Building Commission approved the demolition of the Biotron Laboratory and the Meat Science and Muscle Biology Building. The Board of Regents will be taking up the 2027-2029 biennial state budget request, which includes funds for UW–Madison infrastructure and building needs.
Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska shared that the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is working through an office reorganization with input from stakeholders. The proposed new structure includes creating a small team of full-time associate vice chancellors and part-time faculty fellow positions to provide strategic representation across the faculty divisions.
The associate vice chancellor for research enterprise innovation and partnerships, the associate vice chancellor for research integrity and compliance, the associate vice chancellor for research capacity building positions and the director of strategic research partnerships positions are posted. The director of the research development office and the chief of staff positions are in the final stages of recruitment. The current associate vice chancellors will overlap with the new associate vice chancellor positions for one year.
There has been some concern expressed about the new faculty fellow positions and loss of faculty divisional representation. If the faculty fellow positions continue, they will be part of the office’s leadership team. A Task Force on the University Support for, and Futures of the Arts, Humanities, and Interpretive Social Sciences has been developed to recommend support for scholars and ways to ensure representation at the university level. A tiger team continues to meet to carry out transition plans.
Interim Chancellor Wilcots shared that broken chilled water line, which significantly reduced the cooling capacity for our campus, has been repaired and that the air conditioning is fully operational. The mobile chilling units located on campus will be gradually removed.
Benjamin McBride is the inaugural director of enterprise risk management. Ashley Miller is the new vice provost for enrollment management effective September 8, 2026. Sarah Barber is the new chief of staff to the provost. Interim Chancellor Wilcots expressed great appreciation for outgoing Chief of Staff Eden Inoway-Ronnie and her longstanding contributions to the university. Dean Soyeon Shim, School of Human Ecology, and Dean Jeffrey Russell, Division of Continuing Studies, completed their dean reviews and have been reappointed.
Interim Chancellor Wilcots sent a letter to the secretary of state and homeland security to encourage timely processing and clear procedures for international visas as part of a collective effort of university presidents and chancellors across the country. Dean of the International Division Frances Vavrus sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees regarding Title VI changes and the need to sustain funding. Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning Michelle Young is leading a workgroup on the effects of the duration of status rule.
An AI Readiness and Competency Working Group is charged with developing a campus AI Readiness and Competency framework that includes four key components: 1) a plain language statement about AI acceptable use and guardrails, 2) a review of existing university policies and procedures for potential improvements, 3) coordination of role-based AI literacy resources and training and 4) short- and long-term recommendations for campus AI governance and readiness-focused investments beyond 2026.
The Strategic Framework continues to frame the work ahead with four priorities: 1) deliver unrivaled educational experiences to prepare students for their future, 2) discover, create, and innovate to change lives, 3) convene and collaborate for the public good and 4) Cultivate a culture of excellence to ensure a resilient future.
Mathieu 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 and committee appointments at 3:06 pm. Two leaves of absence were approved.
Johnson motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 3:30 pm.
Dean Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, discussed the new college and its future, including the complexities of AI, opportunities for collaboration, research possibilities, the possibility of defining a new undergraduate major, and the potential to create new AI offerings in collaboration with other campus units.
Johnson 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 and committee appointments at 4:18 pm. One tenure clock extension and one dual role waiver were approved.
Kendall adjourned the meeting at 4:45 pm.
Minutes submitted by Julie Scharm, deputy secretary of the faculty.