University Committee

Minutes for July 27, 2020

Approved August 10, 2020

UC members present: Halverson, Masters, Papp, Sandgren, Tracy, Wolf (chair)

Also present, besides those mentioned below: Michaela Aust, Michael Bernard-Donals, Greg Bump, Judith Burstyn, Michelle Felber, Amol Goyal, Kevin Jacobson, Yvonne Kim, John Lucas, Matt Mayrl, Kelly Meyerhofer, Pete Miller, Jack O’Meara, Jane Richard, Jake Smith, Bill Tishler

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

The University Committee reviewed the shared governance letter from campus administration (chancellor, provost, and vice chancellor for finance and administration). Heather Daniels led a discussion on the dual roles of teaching and research and the impact of TTC; the UC will review combinations that would trigger a dual role waiver. Sandgren and Daniels provided options for reconfiguring the Commission on Faculty Compensation and Economic Benefits; this will also be on a future UC agenda.

Tracy moved to approve the University Committee minutes for July 13, 2020. Seconded. Approved.

Jack O’Meara thanked Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul for joining the lawsuit against ICE and the changes to visas for international students. PROFS, ASPRO, and ASM released a joint statement protesting state budget cuts for 2021-2023 on the same day the governor announced additional budget cuts.

Peter Miller, chair of the Athletic Board, discussed a proposed change to the two alumni member terms on the AB. Right now, they serve a single 4-year term, while faculty, academic staff and university staff can serve two terms. The Athletic Board will come back to the UC with details.

Eric Raimy is serving as this year’s faculty representative to UW System through a new arrangement with PROFS. He shared updates on the two recent Board of Regents meetings. In particular, a policy passed to require masks on campuses, and emergency language was adopted regarding Title IX changes in UW System Administration Code.

Provost Karl Scholz addressed the bullet points in a letter from PROFS regarding opening campus. Administration will hold a number of virtual town halls for faculty and staff. The contact information for the restart working groups is on https://smartrestart.wisc.edu/. Scholz continues to work with the deans to make sure information is being disseminated to all employees. Employees who need accommodations may go through their local divisional disability representative (DDR). Decisions about how a course is taught (face to face vs virtual) and who is teaching the course is a departmental decision. Decisions made at the local level will not be overridden.

Steve Cramer, incoming vice provost for instructional continuity and academic affairs, has 13 teams working on instructional continuity, and results are rolling out. Honorlock has the contract to proctor online testing, and they are locating spaces on campus for studying. 45% of courses have at least one in-person component and 55% of courses have at least one remote component. They are utilizing the Pyle Center and the Unions to accommodate physical distancing, and the 16% of courses that will take place evenings and Saturdays.

Tracy moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel waivers and appeal. Seconded. Passed at 3:02 pm.

Masters moved to convene in open session which was seconded at 3:49 pm when Chair Wolf adjourned the meeting.

Submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty