Minutes for March 27, 2017

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

Others present: S. Smith, O. Arain, M. Felber, J. O’Meara, J. Richard, J. Smith, H. Daniels, J. Brown, M. Bernard-Donals, M. Mayrl

Chair Amy Wendt called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. on the dot. Anja Wanner informed the UC that the accreditation advisory committee has drafted a credit-hour policy that includes online teaching, which is a requirement of reaccreditation. It has been reviewed by UCC and will go to UAPC in late April and accreditation team members will be invited to UC to discuss as well. There will also be a syllabus policy needed down the road. Wendt called attention to revised draft of shared-governance committee charge. Smith informed the UC that the campus PTR policy went to UW System for transmittal to the Board just before this meeting started. Wendt summarized meeting (also attended by Wanner, Moynihan, and Hillman) with President Cross about proposed budget. Discussion focused on performance-based budgeting and faculty workload primarily.

The minutes of the meeting of March 13, 2017, were approved. The UC reviewed the agenda for the April Senate meeting. Jack O’Meara followed up on the meeting with Ray Cross mentioned earlier, noting that Hillman is preparing a document on PBF, describing but not endorsing, which will be shared widely when ready. This topic also came up at the budget forum, and PROFS is organizing meetings on the issue. Representative Steineke opined at the budget forum that what System has already done on the topic of academic freedom may mean that this does not need to be incorporated into statute. The self-insurance forum, which will be recorded, is set for April 13th at 4:00 in Grainger.

 

Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Laurent Heller updated the UC on the status of the Amazon pickup point, which will almost certainly be located under Sellery Hall. Heller will talk with ASM about this on Wednesday. Feedback is uniformly (albeit informally) positive. The project will generate about $190K per year (less costs for enclosing the space). Revenue will likely be used to address investment needs in student support and student life areas. Heller also discussed the resolution on Faculty Assistants to be introduced at the April Faculty Senate meeting. Consensus that it is unusual (in fact, unprecedented) for governance to engage on a specific title in this way. Other job categories on campus have greater market-equity concerns and the pay is comparable with peer institutions, some of which also compensate it (under different titles) less than TAs. Heller echoed other central administration positions that a Senate resolution is not warranted and that our commitment to FAs is different from our commitment to TAs. Consensus among all present that Senate is not best forum for this discussion, but that it is within senators’ rights to bring it up. This issue is now on the radar of central administration as well as of the TTC study group, even though it likely would have been anyway. Shared concern of precedent that would be set by this first-of-its-kind resolution. Heller working with VPFS and others about how to be most strategic overall and how to provide best data to deans and directors along with money to address issues. 

Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims provided updates on the Campus Climate Survey (APIR doing analysis along with Survey Center; anticipate adopting same process as sexual assault survey: developing committee of stakeholders to sift through data and outline next steps and recommendations); the Diversity Inventory Project (seeking buy-in at unit level to get sense of scope of activity and data on resource allocation; website shows inventory as information is entered, creating increasingly better picture of university); and Outstanding Women of Color recognition ceremony (excellent event at new location, which worked out well; article on diversity.wisc.edu about recipients; Ruby Paredes received surprise honor). Sims’ office partnering with National Diversity Council for Women in Leadership Summit to be held at WSB on April 20. Also partnering with UWF/WAA to increase engagement with alumni of color. There is substantial room for growth, particularly in Dane County, which is home to the highest concentration of alumni of color. UC asked how they can help with these initiatives and offered whatever is needed. Consensus that having remarks at the Faculty Senate (perhaps annually) would offer the opportunity to bring everyone up to speed on the wide range of activities around diversity and inclusion both in the CDO office and across campus generally, as well as specific updates on the Diversity Framework, DIP, etc. The UC asked about the search for a COO, in response to which Sims explained that his portfolio is not typical of CDOs, combining both operational pipeline responsibilities (People program, etc.), crisis and message management, and broader and strategic involvement with research, student needs, community outreach, and so on. The COO would manage ongoing operational concerns and pipeline programs and free up the CDO’s time for community engagement, philanthropic development, vision, resource planning, and the like.

Wendt explained the context of the invitation to Director of the Ebling Library Julie Schneider as part of the UC’s broader conversations about libraries. Schneider explained that Ebling collaborates with GLS quite a bit. She reports to the SMPH academic dean and Ebling supports services to SMPH, but also to other health sciences schools and UW Health, as well as other departments such as Kinesiology. All Ebling staff serve on library-related committees and collaborate with GLS on acquisitions and ILL, to the point that in many areas it is actually hard to separate Ebling from GLS. GLS performs all purchasing activity for Ebling and do all of the cataloging and all the ILL borrowing. Ebling does the ILL lending. Schneider indicated that she meets with Van Gemert at least once a month and the two of them serve on the library council to represent Madison. Asked about where funding comes from and how funding decisions are made, Schneider responded that Ebling’s budget comes from SMPH and covers personnel and nearly all of collections, with a small amount coming from UW Health and some funding through Big10 funds. Asked how that compares with other non-GLS libraries, Schneider responded that WHS gets funding from the state, while Law and Merit (and formerly Wendt) get their budgets from their schools. Some GLS funds are mixed with other libraries, but not all. Law has accreditation requirements to report to its school; many other health sciences libraries also report to medical schools, but there are no accreditation requirements. Ample discussion throughout about space, archiving, availability of materials, and so on. Asked about coordination with non-SMPH users of Ebling, Schneider responded that there is an advisory committee that includes representatives of these groups. Not clear how often (or if) that body meets. Schneider reports annually to the health sciences council (4 schools plus UW Health and provost). In theory, decisions go through the advisory committee. 

The UC held two closed sessions during this meeting. Broman moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters, which was seconded and passed at 2:02 p.m. Following deliberations detailed below, Wanner moved to reconvene in open session, which was seconded and approved at 2:41. Later, Rick Amasino moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters. That motion was seconded and passed at 3:02 p.m. Following other deliberations also detailed below, Litovsky moved to reconvene in open session. That motion was seconded and passed at 4:16 p.m.

During closed session, the UC considered and unanimously approved two tenure clock extensions of one year each, one tenure clock extension of 1.5 years, and one dual role waiver. The UC considered a fourth clock extension, but had significant concerns to be addressed prior to approval. Bowers and Smith will draft a memo seeking clarifications. College of Letters & Science Dean Karl Scholz and Associate Dean Sue Zaeske presented a proposal to appoint an external chair for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Ample discussion followed, including several questions from UC members. In accordance with FPP 5.30.B., approval for such an appointment requires approval of the provost after considering the recommendation of the University Committee. Broman moved approval of the L&S proposal. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The UC interviewed a 6th candidate for the Athletic Board and then discussed all the interviews and selected 3 candidates to recommend for approval by the chancellor. Litovsky moved approval of the nominations; the motion was seconded and approved by a vote of 5 yea, 0 nay, and 1 abstention. Given the imbalance on the Board in terms of both race/ethnicity and schools/colleges, in the future, the UC and OSOF will make a concerted effort to seek nominations of underrepresented individuals and will also consider not accepting applications from specific schools/colleges.

The UC considered possible faculty nominations to serve on the Campus Collaboration Committee for the Title and Total Compensation (TTC) study. A potential candidate active on these topics was identified and Broman will discuss availability and interest with that person. In response to a griever’s request for a copy of the external review related to the grievance, the UC considered what parts of that report should be redacted. As salaries are publicly available information, they were not redacted; the names and affiliations of the external review committee members were redacted. Approved without objection. Smith will transmit the report to the griever. The UC discussed revised draft findings on a separate ongoing grievance. Based on these discussions, Smith will revise the draft findings for consideration at a future UC meeting.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank provided updates on finalist visits this week for the State Hygiene Lab director, the announcement of a new WSB dean, PTR policy being sent to System. Wendt summarized the April Faculty Senate agenda. Discussion regarding resolution on faculty assistants. Agreement that Senate is at best a blunt instrument for dealing with this issue and that there are people with more expertise who should be making these decisions. Asked about the BOR meeting next week, Blank said she assumes Amazon pick-up point will be on the agenda, along with our PTR policy, and she should learn more at chancellors’ meeting on Friday.

The UC concluded the open portion of the meeting with a discussion of the Faculty Assistants resolution. UC will be prepared at Senate to address all of the points raised, including whether resolution is in order, possible precedent, possible revisions recasting the resolution as in solidarity with AS Assembly one, and potential other motions. Discussion. Wendt adjourned the meeting at 4:16 p.m., immediately after the second closed session ended.