Approved minutes for December 4, 2017          Minutes approved December 11, 2017

UC members present: Bowers, Litovsky, Ventura (arrived at 1:50), Wanner (chair), Warfield

UC member absent: Amasino

Others present: S. Smith, J. Richard, M. Felber, J. O’Meara, G. Bump, H. Daniels, M. Mayrl

Chair Anja Wanner called the meeting to order at 1:45 p.m. and directed attention to a document from Casey Nagy proposing a structure for increased faculty and other shared governance involvement in the process of merging UW Extension with our campus. Ample discussion, including summary of joint SG meeting, whether the planned “steering committee” is misnamed, and where the conceptual and deliberative parts of this restructuring are happening. Revised structure still not clear on what happens where and who is involved in decision making, who is “engaged” vs. who is “informed.” UC will request more time with Nagy next week than originally planned. The minutes of the meeting of November 27, 2017, were approved. Discussion about federal budget issues. 

Ruth 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 1:59 p.m. The UC considered faculty members to serve on a search and screen committee for a vice chancellor for student affairs. Terry Warfield moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 2:12 p.m. 

Chancellor Rebecca Blank reported on federal tax policy concerns, first priority of which is the proposed tax on graduate student stipends, but there are several other items of concern in the bill as well. Blank also reported on a phone call with all Cooperative Extension employees and on a new Housing mandatory meal plan. ASM has expressed concerns about lack of inclusion of formal governance. Ample discussion. The upcoming one-day BoR meeting will include our campus’s report on minimum in-state enrollments, as well as talk about workload and performance metrics. Blank is hosting student leaders at Olin and also attended the release by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences of a report on undergraduate education, written by a commission of which she was part. The report (https://www.amacad.org/content/Research/researchproject.aspx?i=21999) focuses quality, affordability, and completion rather than access. Blank also offered good news on the performance of several teams (men’s soccer, women’s volleyball both in their respective Sweet 16 bracket; football heading to Orange Bowl) and reported on a meeting with Madison school superintendent Jen Cheatham about collaborations. Blank’s time concluded with a discussion about admissions and recruitment enhancements. Wanner adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m.