Minutes for April 28, 2025

Provost Charles Isbell called the special meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. with 156 voting members present (106 needed for quorum).

Professor Zach Morris (Human Oncology, district 85) presented the proposal to rename the Department of Human Oncology to the Department of Radiation Medicine (Faculty Document 3235). There were no questions on this report.

Professor Karl Broman (Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, district 20) moved approval of the Resolution Urging Implementation of a Separate, Paid Bereavement Leave Category for UW–Madison Employees (Faculty Document 3202 revised). The motion was seconded and approved.

Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) moved approval of the Resolution on Policies Regarding Political Speech and/or Expressive Activity (Faculty Document 3226 revised). The motion was seconded.

There was discussion about any unforeseen consequences about the last clause in the resolution, indicating “that policies pertaining to political speech and/or expressive activity shall not be modified or added during the period when the Faculty Senate is not in session (between the first Monday in May and the first Monday in October of each calendar year).” Some faculty senators felt it was too restrictive, removing the opportunity for the chancellor to act or for a special meeting of the Faculty Senate to be called in summer, and some faculty senators felt it important to consult the Faculty Senate even if it meant waiting on actions until the next Faculty Senate meeting.

Professor Annie Jones, University Committee member, moved to amend the Resolution on Policies Regarding Political Speech and/or Expressive Activity to strike the last clause in the resolution, which restricted activity on policies from the first Monday in May and the first Monday in October. The motion was seconded; however, the motion did not carry.

Professor Pam Kreeger (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, district 95) moved to amend the last clause in the resolution from “THEREFORE, be it further RESOLVED that policies pertaining to political speech and/or expressive activity shall not be modified or added during the period when the Faculty Senate is not in session (between the first Monday in May and the first Monday in October of each calendar year)” to “THEREFORE, be it further RESOLVED that policies pertaining to political speech and/or expressive activity shall not be modified or added without holding a regular or special Faculty Senate meeting.” The motion was seconded and approved.

The body voted on the Resolution on Policies Regarding Political Speech and/or Expressive Activity Motion, as amended (Faculty Document 3226 revised 2). The motion was approved.

Professor Annie Jones, University Committee member, presented a first reading of the Statement in Support of the Core Mission and Values of Higher Education in the United States of America (written by Big Ten colleagues) (Faculty Document 3236). This statement was collaboratively written by faculty governance leaders at Big Ten universities and was inspired by a resolution passed by the University of Virginia Faculty Senate in February 2025. To date, the statement has been endorsed by several senates at Big Ten institutions. Professor April Haynes (History, district 60) proposed a revision for consideration, to affirm diversity, equity and inclusion values in #7 of the resolution, to match the Rutgers University version. A vote on the statement is anticipated at the May Faculty Senate meeting.

Professor Li Chiao-Ping, University Committee chair, presented a first reading of the Proposal to Rescind Faculty Legislation II-332 Defining Language Describing Hostile and/or Intimidating Behavior (Faculty Document 3237). This item is anticipated to be on the consent agenda at the May Faculty Senate meeting.

Provost Charles Isbell adjourned the meeting at 4:04 p.m

Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty