Chancellor Rebecca Blank called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. with 167 voting members present (109 needed for quorum). A memorial resolution was offered for Professor Emeritus Ed Lightfoot (Faculty Document 2710). Chancellor Blank reported on faculty and student national honors, athletic successes on and off the field, an increase in graduate student stipends, the return of UW Extension, federal tax developments, and sexual harassment policy changes and efforts. As part of the latter, Blank reaffirmed the commitment of the university to an environment that is safe and free from harassment and intimidation. Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Marsha Mailick presented the annual State of the Research Enterprise address, noting that UW-Madison has been slipping in its research standing over the past decade, Mailick highlighted strategies to make our research activities more successful, including supporting faculty research through programs such as UW2020, increasing the size of our faculty through initiatives like the cluster hires, inventorying our shared research resources and making them available to the research community, and reducing administrative burdens on research. Questions on sexual harassment best practices and about taxation were directed to the chancellor. 

The minutes of the meeting of November 6, 2017, were approved. Professor Pete Miller (Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis) presented the annual report of the Athletic Board (Faculty Document 2711). Professor Dave Marcouiller (Planning & Landscape Architecture) presented the annual report of the Campus Transportation Committee (Faculty Document 2712). There was one question about the cost of bus passes. Professor Dorothy Farrar Edwards (Kinesiology) presented the PROFS annual report (Faculty Document 2713). Arts Institute Director John Baldacchino presented a proposal to restructure the institute and change its name to the UW-Madison Division of the Arts (Faculty Document 2714). 

Professor Anja Wanner (University Committee, District 120) presented Faculty Document 2715, creating a new FPP section about the Divisional Committee Review Council (DCRC), for a first reading. Prof. Wanner also presented Faculty Document 2716, a proposal to roll the functions of the Research, Safety, and Compliance Oversight Committee into the University Research Council, for a first reading. There was one comment in support of Faculty Document 2716. Prof. Wanner moved adoption of Faculty Document 2707, an update of FPP Chapter 11. There was some discussion of deferred compensation, following which the motion passed by voice vote with no dissenting votes. Prof. Wanner moved adoption of Faculty Document 2709, an endorsement of the UW-Madison Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence. Following discussion on campuswide nature of the policy and standards of evidence, the motion passed by voice vote. Prof. Wanner moved adoption of Faculty Document 2708 (“Change to Faculty Legislation II-303 and Renaming to Protected and Unprotected Expression in a Work-Related Setting”), changing the second sentence of that document to “On a directive from the UW Board of Regents, the UW-Madison Provost’s Advisory Group on Sexual Assault and Misconduct (PAGSAM) constructed the policy contained in Faculty Document 2709.” There was no discussion and the motion passed with no dissenting votes. 

Professor Judith Burstyn (Chemistry, District 48) moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to consider the recommendation of the Committee on Honorary Degrees. The motion was seconded and passed at 4:40 p.m. Professor Leann Tigges (Community & Environmental Sociology and chair of the Committee on Honorary Degrees) presented background information on the nominees for honorary degrees. Senators voted by paper and electronic ballot whether to award the degrees. All three candidates were approved, with 140 votes cast. Professor Sigurd Angenent (Mathematics, District 63) moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 4:55 p.m., at which point Chancellor Blank adjourned the meeting.