Minutes for September 19, 2016

UC members present: Bowers, Broman, Litovsky, Wanner, Wendt (chair)

UC member absent: Amasino

Others present: S. Smith, J. Richard, M. Felber, J. O’Meara, O. Arain, H. Daniels, M. Mayrl, R. Taffora, B. Vaughan. 

Chair Amy Wendt called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Ruth Litovsky will be attending CIC/Big10 Academic Alliance shared governance leadership meeting later this month. Secretary of the Faculty Steve Smith polled the UC members on their availability to meet the weeks of Thanksgiving and Spring Break and alerted them to upcoming campus visits by CHRO finalists. Anja Wanner told the UC that the UAPC discussed a potential assessment of the honors program. Minutes of the meeting of September 12, 2016, approved.

Jack O’Meara discussed the possibility of a Senate resolution on the UW System budget request. PROFS met with staff from the governor’s office to discuss possible performance-based budget items and separately had a very positive meeting with an aide to Representative David Murphy. 

Athletic Board chair Laurel Rice reviewed her first board meeting and plans for the coming year. She distributed the agenda from that meeting and a copy of the presentation she made on student discipline. Rice met with as many Athletics personnel as possible over the summer and established sub-committee chairs. She plans to give presentation at every board meeting. Rice agrees with chancellor’s emphasis that the role of the Athletic Board is to balance advisory with partnering. Senate report (covering three years) will be made in December. Discussion of FAR role and pros and cons of chair serving as co-FAR. FAR perspective is outside (compliance) and chair is focused inside (campus). General discussion about Board and Athletics. Rice feels we are generally in good shape; will increase communication between Board and Department compared to past. 

Barb Bowers moved to approve the 2016-17 charge to the Commission on Faculty Compensation and Economic Benefits. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. The UC also approved by consensus modifications to the Senate endorsement of the campus statement on diversity and inclusion. [Room evacuated for fire drill from 1:37 p.m. to 1:44 p.m.]

Tom Broman moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters. The motion was seconded and passed at 1:45 p.m. The UC discussed a transition plan for membership of the University Research Council with VCRGE Marsha Mailick. Litovsky moved to reconvene in open session. Motion seconded and passed at 2:00 p.m.

Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf updated the UC on the Business School dean search and requested two more faculty nominations to replace those who have declined. Discussion about senate meeting, primarily calendar. Chancellor Rebecca Blank, Vice Chancellor Ray Taffora, and Attorney Brian Vaughan joined to discuss revisions to post-tenure review policy. Taffora summarized developments to date and all present expressed frustration at the apparent disconnect between the approved Regent policy and recent guidance from System. Comments from System were divided into those that seem appropriate to include in the revisions for the Senate, those which can be ignored, and those which will likely require explanation of our position to System. Taffora will confer with System counsel to explain our reasoning on the latter group. Consensus on importance of keeping modifications to the minimum necessary for compliance. Such sections were identified by the group and will be incorporated into Senate materials. Ample discussion.

Dean of the International Division Guido Podestá discussed international faculty travel. He would like to get a campus conversation started about safety and security issues. Most faculty do not take advantage of travel insurance and very few follow overseas registration recommendations (with consulates/embassies). Ample discussion. Consensus on need to increase awareness and improve information systems at a minimum.

Litovsky moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters. The motion was seconded and passed at 3:21 p.m. The vice provost for teaching and learning was approved as an ex officio addition to the ad hoc committee on inclusive health care. The UC approved a one-semester leave and associated tenure clock extension and returned one dual role waiver request with questions. Bowers moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 3:32 p.m., at which time Wendt adjourned the meeting.