Minutes for January 29, 2024

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Jones, Li, Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault (chair), Zweibel
Others present: Michelle Felber, Leslie Fisher, Julie Scharm, Jen Young

Chair Thibeault called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm. 

Rob Cramer, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, shared that the pay plan has been implemented and the trades contracts will need to be approved by the legislature and governor before they can be implemented.

The Critical Compensation Fund has provided discretionary compensation adjustments over the past year either via base adjustments or lump sums. They are working out a timeline for a 2023-24 exercise. 

The budget approach task forces are continuing to move forward with one on indirect costs and another on undergrad tuition/credits. John Zumbrunnen is leading the group on undergrad tuition and Paul Robbins is leading the indirect costs group. There may be a couple more task forces on grad tuition, including 131 budget models, summer tuition, service units, and the Wisconsin Idea. There is a coordinating committee that will be consist of the chairs of the working groups plus the shared governance chairs and chair of the Budget Committee. Final recommendations will be made to the chancellor. 

The legislature is busy with other pieces of the deal struck between Robin Vos and the Board of Regents. UW-Madison is working with UW System on how to implement the freezes on administrative and DEI hiring through position control. This does provide UW-Madison with the opportunity to make sure positions are aligned with the mission. 

Provost Charles Isbell discussed that the budget approach task forces and coordinating committee were getting underway. They are meant to represent perspectives not units. The charge of the task forces is to determine what the consequences would be from a few different models.

In regards to the strategic hiring program, there may be some hiring this spring, but it is expected that the majority of hiring will happen in the next cycle. He expects the first area will be announced soon.

He is looking to hire a new Vice Provost for public engagement or something similar to oversee some areas in his office.

The Deans Council meetings have been expanded to 2 hours twice a month. Approximately 45 minutes are now spent on finance and administration issues. The second part of the meeting is on issues under the provost. If there is a 5th Wednesday of the month, the deans meet with the vice provosts. 

He continued the discussion regarding the proposal to align course and program approvals. He met with the University Curriculum Committee and introduced the idea to them. This structure would help see whether this is a drift of courses from the program offerings. It may also allow involvement of some people who have expertise in graduate or professional education, who aren’t involved currently. He asked the UC to continue discussing this idea and talking with him about it during his next visit. 

The minutes from January 22, 2024, were approved by automatic consent.

The memo regarding amounts for faculty promotions was reviewed by the University Committee. It incorporates a 4% raise in line with the state pay plan. 

The University Committee reviewed the Senate agenda for February, which includes a closed session on honorary degrees. 

Li motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers at 2:45 pm. One tenure clock extension was approved. 

Li motioned to reconvene in open session at 3:07 pm. It was seconded and approved. 

Thibeault adjourned the meeting at 3:09 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty