Minutes for September 25, 2023

UC members present: Jones, King, Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault (chair), Zweibel

Others present: Michaela Aust, Lindsey Stoddard Cameron, Jack O’Meara, Julie Scharm, Jake Smith

Chair Thibeault called the meeting to order at 1:15 pm.

Secretary Heather Daniels asked if there were any issues the Budget Committee should look at this year. The University Committee requested that they keep tabs on any changes to the budget model.

Susan and Heather attended the Graduate School Dean Advisory Board. The students had great comments and were very in favor of the change. They asked about any drawbacks that other campuses have experienced with this model. Dean Karpus has agreed to check with his peers on this.

Dean Bill Karpus discussed his impressions of the three groups so far that have discussed the change in reporting lines for the Dean of the Graduate School. In general, there have been a lot of positive changes. The only concern has been to make sure the connection between graduate education and the research enterprise continues to be strong.

He is continuing to work on the stipend projection project. The current process doesn’t allow for future planning. They are hoping to do 5-year stipend projections. This would allow for planning on grant submissions and graduate program enrollment.

Provost Charles Isbell discussed the spring break proposal to move spring break to the fourth full week of March except when Easter and Passover fall on the same week. The fourth week approach mirrors the plans for almost all local school districts. He is considering whether other options in the calendar should be explored and asked the University Committee to hold off bringing the spring break proposal to the floor until later this semester.

The Vice Chancellor for Research search is starting to take shape, and the Vice Provost for Libraries finalists will visit campus starting on October 2.

There was a discussion about the faculty interdisciplinary hiring project. He expects there will be public information on the project in the coming week. The University Committee expressed concerns regarding mechanisms for faculty input with the deans.

The minutes from September 18, 2023, were approved by automatic consent.

The University Committee reviewed the Faculty Senate agenda for Monday.

Jones motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss committee appointments at 2:45 pm. One tenure clock extension and one leave of absence were approved.

Zweibel motioned to reconvene in open session at 3:17 pm. It was seconded and approved.

Thibeault adjourned the meeting at 3:29 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty