Approved Minutes for April 30, 2018          Approved May 7, 2018

UC members present: Bowers, Litovsky, Ventura, Wanner (chair), Warfield

UC member absent: Amasino

Others present: S. Smith, E. Rawling, A. Cool, J. Richard, H. Daniels, A. Brower, J. O’Meara, M. Childers, M. Aust, M. Mayrl, C. Springer

Chair Anja Wanner called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. and directed attention to materials available (including the ULC addendum to the library master plan) and recent and upcoming events. The minutes of the meetings of April 16, 2018, and April 23, 2018, were approved. Athletic Board chair Pete Miller updated the UC on the April 20 Board meeting and discussed the FAR (faculty athletic representative) role. At both the Big10 and NCAA levels, this is a time of rapid policy change during which there is an important space for faculty voices, although the national meetings tend to be overwhelmingly attended by conference and athletics personnel. Much discussion was had. Jack O’Meara provided a legislative update and the UC reviewed and discussed materials for the Faculty Senate meeting, making changes that will be reflected in the distributed agenda. 

The Madison UC, Extension Provost Aaron Brower, and faculty from Extension discussed the tenure working group report and process at length. Steve Ventura reported on the history and context of the group and noted that the report to the Faculty Senate is intended to be informational and provoke discussion. In the fall the Senate will take the matter up in a more concrete fashion. Wanner oriented new UC members Kirsten Wolf and Paul Campagnola as to committee processes, procedures, and functions, which opened into a broader discussion of welcome. This segued nicely into the arrival of Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who had just returned from an all-Cooperative Extension meeting in the Dells. Blank reported on the VCRGE’s stepping down, the progress of various leadership searches, and the final report from the group studying organizations that in the past used the name “Ku Klux Klan.” Blank strongly encouraged all to read the interesting and well-written report and summarized its main recommendations. 

Terry Warfield 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 2:50 p.m. The UC discussed candidates for the position of AB co-FAR with the chancellor and, after her departure, approved a one-semester tenure clock extension. The UC considered additional names for a de novo review committee and, with much discussion and due deliberation, a list of nominees and backups for the WSB dean search and screen committee. Warfield moved to reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded and passed at 3:46 p.m., at which point the meeting was adjourned by Wanner, for the antepenultimate (or perhaps even penultimate) time.