Minutes for June 21, 2021 

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

Others present besides those listed below: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Jack O’Meara, Kelly Meyerhofer, Jane Richard, Jake Smith, and Bill Tishler

Chair Sandgren called the meeting to order at 1:16 pm.

The University Committee will again hold a virtual orientation for Faculty Senate in the fall. The University Committee decided against exploring implications of faculty remote work.

The minutes of the meeting of June 7, 2021 were approved by consent.

Charles Hoslet, Vice Chancellor for University Relations, and Crystal Potts, Director of State Relations, have been working with PROFS and other stakeholders on the state budget process. Several policy items were removed from the budget passed by the Joint Finance Committee, and Hoslet and Potts are working on advancing those items as separate legislation. The budget includes $8.25 million in earmarked new funding. A UW System compensation plan of 2% for each year will be 2/3 funded by the state. The $629 million capital budget includes the L&S instructional building and the Engineering Drive utilities project.

Steve Ackerman, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, is working with the Associate Deans for Research to modify requirements for research coming back to campus. Most recently, more face-to-face human subjects research is allowed.

Several research projects have been chosen for the Research Forward Initiative and Industry Collaboration programs. About the same number of external grant proposals are expected this year compared to last, although the awards increased by around 3%.

John Zumbrunnen, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, shared information about a new division starting on July 1. It will contain the Office of Undergraduate Advising, WISCIENCE, Student Learning Assessment, and the new Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring. This new center will bring together employees from various parts of campus that were part of the instructional continuity efforts during the pandemic and will continue to build on new areas like training for instructors to be excellent mentors, facilitation in the classroom, and supporting education for cultural competencies. The leadership team will be announced this summer.

Zumbrunnen is also chairing a new working group on the academic calendar with a goal of enhanced communications by August. This group has also had beginning conversations about creating resources for the campus community around religious observances.

Rebecca Blank, Chancellor, discussed the Supreme Court decision that will allow college athletes to benefit from their name, image, and likeness. Different from pay-to-play, the ruling only applies to specific sports, but is likely to eventually affect student athletes in all sports.

On campus, fall planning is underway and public spaces are opening up. UW-Madison had a large increase in undergraduate applications this year, although the summer “melt” is looking the same as usual. The employee COVID-19 vaccination rate is in the mid-70s percent and likely to be higher since some have not yet reported their status. Student vaccination rate is expected to be over 80%. Campus will maintain testing for people who feel ill, and in dorms for unvaccinated students. For international students vaccinated abroad, the World Health Organization standards for approved vaccines will apply.

Papp moved to convene in closed session; it was seconded and approved at 2:51 pm.

Halverson moved to go into open session; it was seconded and approved at 3:11 pm. One dual role request was approved.

Chair Sandgren adjourned the meeting at 3:13 pm.