Minutes for April 20, 2020

UC members present: Campagnola, Halverson, Sandgren, Ventura, Warfield (chair), Wolf

Also present, besides those mentioned below: Greg Bump, Tim Dalby, Michelle Felber, Amol Goyal, Jack O’Meara, Noel Radomski, Jane Richard, Jake Smith, Bill Tishler

Chair Warfield called the meeting to order at 1:02 pm.

Wolf moved to approve the University Committee minutes for April 13, 2020 with one correction. Seconded. Approved.  

Karl Scholz, Provost, had four items for the University Committee. There had not been agreement as to whether a COVID-19 tenure clock extension would extend the timing of the third-year review, but consensus now is that it would NOT delay the third-year review.

The argument against offering a COVID-19 pass/fail option for summer session as in spring semester is that students will know going into the course that it is being held online.

Faculty with a sabbatical scheduled this coming academic year can ask that it be delayed or accelerated for one semester. A full year delay would require faculty to reapply.

Provost Scholz discussed instructional continuity. The four likely scenarios for fall semester are: everything normal with some restrictions, starting face-to-face then go online in the event of a second wave of infection, starting online and coming back in-person at some point, or everything online. There was some discussion about offering the same course in-person and also online for students not be able to come to campus. This was deemed very difficult.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(e) to discuss university business matters with competitive implications. Seconded. Passed at 1:37.

Sandgren moved to convene in open session which was seconded at 2:29.

Patrick Sims, Chief Diversity Officer, brought three items to the University Committee. He has been looking at the cross pollination and communication flow of various shared governance committees and related groups. He proposed that the University Committee create an ad hoc committee to review and provide a set of recommendations. He volunteered to draft a charter.

Asian racist comments chalked on campus following spring break triggered the Office of Student Affairs to hold a Zoom town hall meeting for students. A staff/faculty session held the next day had 700 attending, despite some technical difficulties. The DDEEA is planning to co-host a town hall meeting “part 2” in May, leveraging resources from the state and county.

For his report to the Faculty Senate, Sims will share success stories such as the Diversity Forum and the TOP (target of opportunity) program, and plans for a virtual Diversity Forum in the fall.

Paul Campagnola will serve, with Kirsten Wolf as backup, for the working group on fall graduate education continuity.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss a grievance. Seconded. Passed at 3:01.

Sandgren moved to convene in open session which was seconded at 3:15 when Chair Warfield adjourned the meeting.