Minutes for February 5, 2024

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Jones, Li, Tejedo-Herrero, Thibeault (chair), Zweibel
Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Jennifer Noyes, Julie Scharm, Lindsey Stoddard Cameron

Chair Thibeault called the meeting to order at 1:01 pm. 

John Zumbrunnen, Senior Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Scott Owczarek, Registrar, discussed the final exam schedule. There are complaints every year about exams on weekends, on or near holidays. While it is known that approximately 3,000 course sections are assigned final exam periods and rooms, it is not known how many are actually used. They discussed using department chairs to collect information on this. Other items discussed include exam seating, using an opt in system to schedule an exam room, shortening the exam period so exams are not held on the weekend and/or moving up finals so grading isn’t happening during Christmas Eve and Christmas. 

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 waivers at 1:31 pm. One tenure clock extension and two dual-role waivers were approved. Two committee appointments were recommended. 

Zweibel motioned to reconvene in open session at 1:49 pm. It was seconded and approved. 

The minutes from January 29, 2024, were approved by automatic consent.

The University Committee discussed the idea of putting course approvals and program approvals in the same approval process. The committee discussed what issues were trying to be solved by the rearrangement and concerns about the volume in the undergraduate space. 

Heather Schlesser provided an update on the Knapp Bequest Committee. The committee funds projects that are outside the regular curriculum and of benefit to students. The bequest also funds some scholarship programs for undergraduates, graduate students and law students. They funded $1.3 million in projects for next year including ongoing commitments to scholarships. Seven projects were not funded. 

Rob Howell and Tom Kuech from the Ombuds Program reported the office is seeing an increasing number of visitors. Major issues the ombuds have observed include supervisor training, coaching and accountability, hostile and intimidating behavior, need for mediation accessibility, access to policies and procedures and effects of employee career counseling availability. 

Chancellor Mnookin reported on the Title VI complaint to the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education made by the editor of Campus Reform around shared ancestry concerns regarding anti-Semitism. Two incidents are mentioned in the complaint: chants at an October 10 protest that took place on campus and an October 16 letter posted on social media from Students for Justice in Palestine and other student organizations. 

A research misconduct complaint was filed anonymously against three people. This complaint will follow the campus processes. 

The search and screen committee for the Vice Chancellor for University Relations will be formed soon. They will also begin a search for the d ean of the School of Medicine and Public Health. 

Thibeault adjourned the meeting at 3:04 pm.