University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-09-28

Minutes for September 28, 2026

UC members present: Chui, de Leon, Haynes, Johnson, Kendall, Mathieu

Others present: Greg Bump, Lesley Fisher, Alisha Latham, Julie Scharm, Katie Stigler

Chair Kendall called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

Nick Curtis, Director of Assessment and Ralph Grunewald, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Student Evaluation of Teaching presented the latest revised policy. The policy contained changes made following the last town hall meeting. They are planning to bring the policy for a vote at the October Senate meeting.

Michelle Felber and Jack O’Meara reported on PROFS activities. There are Legislative Council Study Committees happening this fall. These committees contain experts in the field and may hear testimony from UW-Madison faculty and staff. There are several constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall. One would ban government discrimination.

The UC reviewed the Faculty Senate agenda including the new approach for committee reports.

The UC discussed recommendations from the Ad Hoc Academic Free Committee. Chui moved to remove the words related to academic staff from the policy. This was seconded and approved. The UC did not take action on the first two recommendations.

The UC discussed possibly holding town halls on their priorities this year but did not make a decision to move forward. Regarding the graduate education priority, April, Nancy and Derek agreed to meet to work on drafting a charge for a working group. The UC also agreed to forward Bob Mathieu’s name for serve on the committee that Dean Karpus is putting together regarding PhD degrees.

Patrick Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer, joined a discussion about the HIB process. Michelle Chui is bringing together a couple folks from ASEC as well as someone from the Grad School and Postdoc office to think about next steps. There was further discussion about the possibility of a town hall on this topic. The UC also discussed OpEx and international faculty visas and permanent residency.

The minutes for September 14, 2026, were approved by consent.

The UC indicated they were satisfied with the annual memo about faculty promotion amounts that now also includes set increases for full professors who complete PTRs. They also discussed the new list of under or unrepresented faculty senate districts.

Mathieu motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(a)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers, and grievances at 3:52 pm. One tenure clock extension was approved.

De Leon motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 4:09 pm.

Kendall adjourned the meeting at 4:10 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.