Minutes for April 4, 2016

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

UC member absent: Edwards

Also present: S. Smith, J. Richard, Felber, O’Meara, Daniels, Mayrl

Chair Beth Meyerand called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. The Secretary of the Faculty called the UC’s attention to the police department annual report (available at uwpd.wisc.edu), the incorrect agenda listing of planned UC absences (Edwards, not Litovsky, is absent), the reception for Hilldale award recipients, follow-up information from Research and Sponsored Programs, and revised timing for the ad hoc committee on the academic calendar’s final report. The minutes of the meeting of March 28, 2016, and of the special meeting of March 30, 2016, were approved.

Jack O’Meara (PROFS) shared the effusive response from the state legislature to a thank you note, clearly signaling that recognition of positives is important.

Teaching Academy co-chairs David Baum and Debra Shapiro provided history and context on the white paper on course evaluations and presented a resolution to be introduced to the Faculty Senate. Academy recommends that there should be a supplemental system to existing departmental evaluations where students can opine about essential learning outcomes. Pilots and focus groups conducted to ensure that open-ended questions could be designed to apply to any course. Recommendation is to move towards implementing something along these lines. Based on discussions with VPTLs over time, something central was deemed too sensitive without mandate from shared governance bodies. Ample discussion and many questions. UC would like further discussion, but also approves placement on May Senate agenda.

Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Marsha Mailick updated the UC on several items: The WID review committee and the public access to research working group have both been charged. The research misconduct policy group will be charged on April 14. Work continues on the IRB survey and the plan is to initiate it on May 1 to anyone with active protocol. Discussion.

Amy Wendt moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters. Motion seconded and passed at 1:46 p.m. The University Committee considered and unanimously approved one tenure clock extension and two leave of absence extensions. The University Committee nominated faculty to a CFRR-mandated ad hoc de novo review, to replace recusals on the CFRR for a discipline case, and for the ad hoc committee on health benefits. Broman moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 2:25 p.m.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank updated the UC on her brief meeting with Hillary Clinton and on the imminent Faculty Senate meeting. Discussion, primarily about tenure policies and diversity issues. The UC discussed the charge for the ad hoc committee on equitable and inclusive health benefits. Edits to the charge letter were approved by consensus. Meyerand adjourned the meeting at 2:56 p.m.