Approved Minutes for November 26, 2018          Approved December 10, 2018, with one clarification.

UC members present: Amasino (chair), Bowers, Campagnola, Ventura, Warfield, Wolf

Others present: S. Smith, M. Bernard-Donals, H. Daniels 

Chair Rick Amasino called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Secretary of the Faculty Steve Smith called attention to updated Senate materials. The minutes of the meeting of University Committee Meeting Minutes 2018-11-19 , were approved with a typographical fix. The UC discussed the evaluation of interdisciplinary work at some length, particularly the issue of how work that falls between or across divisions can/should be assessed at the divisional level. At this time, the UC will continue to keep track of this issue, but will not convene a separate group on the topic. Rather (1) an already-constituted group working on similar topics in relation to community engaged scholarship will be asked to expand its scope slightly to make recommendations on this topic as well and (2) this will be a topic for discussion at the next all-divisional meeting.

Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Steve Cramer returned to the student digital ecosystem, focusing this time on the development of online education principles. Ample discussion ensued. Online activity is growing here and will likely accelerate, but remains small compared to other universities and is not in general something that will ever replace in person education here. There are concerns and myths to be addressed, and the objectives of our efforts are (not necessarily in this order): flexibility, access, and maintaining quality. 

Dean of the Division of Continuing Studies Jeff Russell, (no-longer-interim) Summer Term Director Aphra Mednick, and Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf discussed summer term in general and 2018 results in particular. Ample discussion on history, current context, budget model, and more. [A question was raised at the meeting about whether faculty or staff are teaching more in the summer. Mednick provided an additional document with information on this point.]

Director of Admissions Andre Phillips reported that his team is focused on next years class. Phillips and the UC discussed growth in student numbers, the Common App, and how we compare with our peers/competitors in terms of recruitment. Application numbers continue to grow and Admissions will make request for more staff. Our efforts within the state continue to be 1st priority, particularly resources for middle- to low-income families. Still need to work on our story/branding and be more creating about reaching harder-to-reach students. Director of Talent Acquisition and Retention Patrick Sheehan updated the UC on new draft personnel and reference policies, which he will also present at Senate. Discussion followed. 

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 3:14 p.m. The UC approved four dual role waiver requests, one request to hire a former probationary faculty member into the academic staff, and discussed potential membership of a de novo committee. Amasino moved to reconvene in open session to adjourn. The motion was seconded and passed at 3:31 p.m., when he also adjourned the meeting.