University Committee

Minutes for December 7, 2020

Approved December 16, 2020

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

UC member absent: Tracy

Also present, besides those mentioned below: Michaela Aust, Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Kevin Jacobson, Yvonne Kim, Matt Mayrl, Jane Richard, Jake Smith, Bill Tishler 

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

Minutes of November 30, 2020 were approved by automatic consent. 

The University Committee discussed the draft policy for promotion from associate professor to professor. The revisions will incorporate a stipulation that associate professors may request consideration after their first post-tenure review (5 years after promotion to associate). If departmental policy isn’t to use letters, they will not be required unless requested by the associate professor. 

Masters moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss a waiver and committee appointments. Seconded. Passed at 1:45 pm. One leave of absence was approved.

Sandgren moved to convene in open session. Seconded. Passed at 1:58 pm.

Steve Ackerman, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, reported they received 110 applications for the Pandemic-Affected Research Continuation Initiative (PARSI) and will be funding about 70 applications for $1.8 million. The call for applications for the Understanding and Reducing Inequalities Initiative attracted 92 abstracts for $14.5 million. The Research Forward Initiative call for proposals is in process; this is the replacement for the UW2020 Initiative. The results of the National Science Foundation (NSF) research expenditure survey are delayed until January 2021. UW-Madison expenditures increased 7.5% from the year before.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank shared that campus COVOD-19 infection rates remain below 2% following Thanksgiving break. As has been the pattern for the past few years, UW-Madison will ask the UW System Board of Regents for tuition increases for the professional schools. The Regents will also be considering 2% and 2.5% pay increases for the next biennial budget. Building on successful existing Madison programs, the Regents will also discuss how UW System could develop educational programming in correctional facilities.

Virtual commencement ceremonies will include two honorary degree awards, John Felder, the alumni speaker from the 1969 Black Student Strike, and commencement speaker Rose Lavelle.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c)(e) and (f) to discuss items of a competitive nature and committee appointments. Seconded. Passed at 2:40 pm.

Masters moved to convene in open session. Seconded. Passed at 3:06 pm.

Adjourned at 3:10 pm.

Submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty