Minutes for June 20, 2022

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Li, Papp (chair), Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault

Others: Greg Bump, Gideon Elliott, Michelle Felber, Matt Mayrl, Jane Richard, Jake Smith

Chair Papp called the meeting to order at 1:02pm.

VCFA Cramer was unable to make the meeting.

Papp noted that the Interim Chancellor approved the request for extension and faculty in the Division of Extension will have until September 1 to make their decisions regarding faculty status. Papp announced that the leave policy for postdocs will take effect on July 1. Zweibel will be serving as UC representative to the University Research Council.

The minutes for the meeting of June 6, 2022 were approved.    

Papp conveyed a request from the Vice Chancellor of Faculty and Staff for the UC’s opinion on a proposal for an Institutional Reference Check policy for new hires coming in with tenure. The new hire would have to consent. The proposal is for a three-year trial and has been vetted by the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Legal Affairs. The UC discussed several questions and concerns, primarily around efficiency, the stage at which the reference check would be performed, and confidentiality. VCFS Meyerand is scheduled to meet with the UC for further discussion on August 1.

Papp motioned, and it was seconded, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss rule waivers at 1:40. Two track transfers and one tenure clock extension were approved. 

Papp motioned to reconvene in open session at 2:15.

Interim Chancellor Scholz responded to questions about the TOP program, which will be paused in 2023. Interim Chancellor Scholz also addressed the recent assaults on multiple Asian students, and the response to the University’s first statement. A second statement will be sent out shortly.

Interim Chancellor Scholz invited the UC’s thoughts on what issues the incoming Chancellor might face in the first six months of her appointment; Matt Mayrl announced that Jennifer Noyes will be serving as interim Chief of Staff for the Office of the Chancellor.

Thibeault raised concerns regarding higher rates of incoming freshmen, particularly the challenges for SOAR.  

The committee discussed what follow-up is needed for the Department of Extension, especially in regard to adherence to Faculty Policies and Procedures.

Papp adjourned the meeting at 3:36.