Minutes for January 10, 2022

Minutes approved 01/24/22 

UC members present: Babcock, Halverson, Papp, Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault

Others present besides those listed below: Lesley Fisher, David Giroux, Matt Mayrl, Kelly Meyerhofer, Jane Richard

Halverson called the meeting to order at 1:48. He welcomed Sue Babcock, who is replacing Kristyn Masters for the spring semester.

The minutes of the meeting of December 20, 2021, were approved by consent. 

Jack O’Meara and Michelle Felber, PROFS, reported that the 2% pay plan was approved by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) at the end of December. The Assembly’s Colleges and University Committee will meet and consider bills on flexibility in investment, tuition reciprocity and a free speech bill. PROFS has registered in support of the first two bills and opposes the free speech bill. Seven of Evers appointments to the Board of Regents have not been confirmed by the legislature.

Provost Karl Scholz indicated that the finalists for the UW System President could be announced later in the week. He also provided a follow up regarding the student complaints that are forwarded by the Division of Enrollment Management. The university’s accreditors asked UW-Madison to create a central mechanism for complaints and the division agreed to receive complaints and pass them along. They receive about 10 complaints each semester.

The Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring is hosting a series of workshops prior to the start of the spring semester. In addition, a software package called Name Coach is being implemented to allow name pronunciation to be communicated to instructors.

He is expecting instruction starting on January 25 to largely be in person. They have procured KN95, N95, and surgical mask, which are available through Shop@UW. Unvaccinated employees and students will need to continue PCR testing at the University Club. Vaccinated employees and students will have access to rapid antigen tests. All students returning to campus are being urged to get a test. They are also increasing the number of appointments available for students to receive booster shots through UHS and asking everyone to submit their booster information to UW-Madison. They are working with public health experts and at this time, those experts do not believe online instruction would decrease spread in the community. If a significant number of students are unable to attend class due to COVID or an instructor is unable to teach, instructors should check with their chair and figure out next logical steps.

Rebecca Blank, Chancellor, reminded the University Committee about the upcoming listening sessions with the Chancellor Search and Screen Committee. She will be attending the NCAA constitutional convention, which will change the protocols for decision making. The UW-Madison Martin Luther King Jr celebration will be held on January 25 with speaker Nikole Hannah-Jones, author of the 1619 Project.

Halverson moved to convene in closed session; it was seconded and approved at 2:38. Two dual-role waivers were approved.

Halverson moved to reconvene in open session; it was seconded and approved at 3:07.

Halverson adjourned the meeting at 3:19.