Approved minutes for April 9, 2018          Approved on April 16, 2018

UC members present: Amasino, Bowers, Litovsky, Ventura (by phone from 2:36 p.m. on), Wanner (chair), Warfield

Others present: P. Schneider, H. Daniels, M. Felber, J. O’Meara, J. Richard, C. Springer, 

Chair Anja Wanner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Terry Warfield reported on the Board of Regents meeting. The minutes of the meeting of April 2, 2018, were approved. Jack O’Meara reported on PROFS activities. 

Committee on Women in the University co-chairs Bret Larget and Tamara Walker presented the committee’s annual report for 2016-2017. Ample discussion about childcare spaces, lactation spaces, and hostile and intimidating behavior policies. Lack of strategic campuswide vision, especially as concerns spaces in new or remodeled buildings, especially noted. Larget will present this report at May Senate meeting.

Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf and the UC discussed departments, department-like bodies, and tenure, noting the role of the UC rather than the UAPC in designating non-departments as tenure homes. Mangelsdorf also briefed the UC on the new Demonstration and Protest Response Advisory Group, which will meet for the first time formally at the end of this week. UWPD, Student Life, and others are working on a document about how to respect free speech rights and rights of protestors and be consistent with Regent guidance. Ample discussion followed. The provost will continue to report back about this group and this document, which she noted is intended to provide guidance to the group and campus at large on how to reconcile Regent guidance with other policies and priorities such as free speech. Mangelsdorf concluded by noting that ASM leadership is about to turn over and she will miss the current group, who have been great to work with.

Casey Nagy provided an update on Madison-Extension reunification and the broader UWS restructuring. Highlights include the fact that work has started on the first of three MOUs to cover the transition period (School for Workers, Cooperative Extension, and BAMI), continued assurance from System that budget will follow people, and continued uncertainty about BoR intent with regards to tenure. Much discussion was had.

CURAFA chair Nick Hillman presented the annual report for that committee, noting that he joined CURAFA in January 2017 and a few months later became chair and thus the report covers some things with which he was not personally involved. CURAFA was “repurposed” and rethought a couple of years ago and current arrangements seem to be working well, although there is a degree of institutional memory that needs to be rebuilt. Connections with Enrollment Management are strong, productive, and collegial. Committee is focusing on both gelling as a team and finding ways to be more strategic and influential. On the latter aspect, CURAFA has developed a statement about the Badger Tuition Promise that they will share with the broader governance bodies. Discussion occurred throughout.

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 3:11 p.m. The UC discussed several departmental personnel matters, including a (FPP 5.30.B.) request to set aside preferential balloting for director of a center. The UC unanimously approved one clinical-initial clock extension and selected one of their number to observe a departmental executive committee meeting at that department’s request. Warfield moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 4:37 p.m., at which point, Wanner stood, opened the door, and adjourned the meeting.