Minutes for March 8, 2021

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

Others present not mentioned below: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Lesley Fisher, Yvonne Kim, Jack O’Meara, Kelly Meyerhofer, Jane Richard, Bill Tishler

Chair Wolf convened the meeting at 1:30

Minutes of the meetings of February 22, and March 1, 2021were approved by automatic consent.

Jack O’Meara, PROFS, went over developments they are watching closely: President Biden plans to rescind the Title IX rules on campus sexual assault that were put in place under Trump; the American Rescue Plan (H.R. 1319) includes $40M for higher education; and bills at the state level: how Extension faculty and staff can get credit for what they do in field; CPA bill that will ensure businesses can deduct expenses paid for with revenue from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). PROFS position statements are on its social media feeds.

Bill Karpus, Dean of the Graduate School announced the nominees for the Edward A Bouchet Honor Society’s UW-Madison Chapter (the society seeks to acknowledge excellent scholarship and service to the community. The winners of the Three Minute Thesis were announced. This is an international competition in which graduate students explain their thesis research to a general audience. The winner, Claudia Ramly, will present at the Midwest regional completion. The Graduate School is looking to expand to all disciplines Professor Bassam Shakhashiri’s popular challenge to graduate students to write a chapter of their thesis for a lay person. Finally, GFEC is looking at changing policy of the breadth requirement, including getting a minor.

Karl Scholz, Provost, asked that the UC weigh in on a proposal by the Academic Policy Task Force to change the date to drop classes (without special permission) from the 9^th week to the 12^th week. This would be in line with the deadline to withdraw from school. This isn’t permanent yet, but that may be the next step. Sandgren moved to accept this proposal. Seconded. Passed. Scholz moved on to a lively discussion of additional COVID-19 tenure clock extensions.

Pete Miller, Athletic Board chair, and Ann Sheehy, a member of the Athletic Board, discussed a recent safety report done in conjunction with the UW Police Department. It has been shared with, and copied by, many Big Ten colleagues. As the Medical Advisory Rep, Sheehy outlined the COVID-19 testing protocols in Athletics and plans to review their effectiveness. Big 10 protocols must be followed in addition to state and campus requirements.  

Tracy moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers, grievances and committee appointments. Seconded. Passed at 3:01 pm. Two tenure clock extension were approved and a one-year extension to an academic staff appointment for a former tenure-track faculty member was approved.

Sandgren moved to convene in open session. Seconded. Passed at 4:40 p.m.

Chair Wolf adjourned the meeting at 4:42.