Minutes for May 9, 2022

UC members present: Babcock, Halverson, Papp, Sandgren (chair), Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault

Others: Lesley Fisher, Jake Smith

Sandgren called the meeting to order at 1:30.

The minutes for the meeting of May 2 were approved.

All four divisional committees will have expedited tenure processes for senior hires for next year. UW System Representatives discussed how to prepare for legislative encroachment on academic freedom. A proposed policy on professional development will be out this summer or fall. There was some concern academic staff and faculty professional development needs being met by a single policy.

Jack O’Meara, Michelle Felber and Michael Bernard-Donals provided a PROFS legislative update. The legislative forum 2 weeks ago had limited attendance but was streamed and received a bit of press. Some Steering Committee members met with incoming UW System President Jay Rothman. A public hearing was held on a bill after the legislature adjourned that would provide $3 million for spinal cord injury research. A proposed constitutional amendment to give the legislature a say in the distribution of federal dollars has now been amended to exclude UW-Madison.

Provost Karl Scholz asked the University Committee what they want to know from assistant professors completing their first year. He also provided an update on enrollment for the fall.

Charlie Hoslet, Vice Chancellor for University Relations, gave updates on state and federal actions. UW-Madison received earmarks for helium plant upgrades, a facility for swine research, and completion of the Marshfield dairy research facility. The federal budget process will continue throughout the summer. Three bills related to UW-Madison passed the state legislature: allowing graduate health science classes to begin prior to September 2; allowing UW System to invest cash reserves in short-term investments; and allowing the new UW-Madison engineering building planning to proceed. A bill still in the works regards tuition reciprocity. There is also a GPR reallocation bill for UW System that could cause UW-Madison to lose funding.

LaVar Charleston, Chief Diversity Officer, shared that the Divine 9 Garden Plaza on East Campus Mall was dedicated on May 6 with current students and alumni. The DDEEA graduation for this year overlaps with the doctoral commencement. They hope to change the timing for next year.

The student climate results show a reflection of broader society such as feeling less comfortable reaching out to police, and feeling better about representing their identities then they did in 2016, the last time the survey was conducted. Other results of the survey are similar to findings in 2016.

An ad hoc committee sponsored by DDEEA and the UC will review the REEL change plan: what has been done, what still needs attention, and recommendations for the future. The charge still needs to be finalized.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session; it was seconded and approved at 3:08. Three tenure clock extensions were approved.

Sandgren moved to reconvene in open session; it was seconded and approved at 3:54.

Sandgren adjourned the meeting at 3:55.