Approved minutes for November 11, 2019

Approved 11/18/2019

UC members: Halverson, Sandgren, Ventura, Warfield (chair), Wolf; Campagnola arrived at 2:10

Others present besides those listed below: Michelle Felber, Jack O’Meara, Jake Smith, Heather Daniels, Bill Tishler, Greg Bump, Matt Mayrl

Chair Terry Warfield called the meeting to order at 1:16. PROFS’ Jack O’Meara and Warfield reported on a recent meeting with Governor Evers, and Sandgren reported on an AAUP meeting, both covered disappointment inn the makeup of the Board of Regents president search and screen committee (no faculty and no staff). Wolf said that the Faculty Reps are preparing a statement in opposition, something the UC hopes will be coordinated with other groups.  

Human Resources Director Mark Walters gave an overview of the administrative characteristics of the 350 “at will employees” on campus. They are limited term, usually with backup positions, serving without just cause at the pleasure of the administrator. The concept will continue in Title and Total Compensation project. A lively discussion ensued. Walters had a handout of the TTC project timeline. Existing positions are being mapped to new terms and will be reviewed to identify gaps in coverage. The PDs for research/teaching professors will be ready soon. The discussion turned to challenges supervisors might have over time updating stale PDs.

Tim Dalby (who will assume chair of ASEC in spring) presented the academic staff’s plan to print emergency numbers on WiscID cards (suicide hotline, etc.). The UC endorsed the idea and will introduce a resolution in support for the December or February senate.  

Provost Karl Scholz began his update with good news: minimum wage on campus increased to $15/hour, and, data from the early admissions deadline (November 1) show that applications are up 6.7% overall, and 16.6% for historically underrepresented groups, both all-time highs. Admissions letters may go out with financial aid letters before the end of the year. Associate VC for Enrollment Management, Steve Hahn is leaving UW for the Huron Consulting Group. His replacement will be done through an internal search; it’s unlikely there will be an interim. A sober discussion ensued related to building a civil environment on campus, a need evidenced by the recent newspaper article analyzing processes related to hostile, intimidating, and what-is-acceptable behavior, and how to track and analyze incidents.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank focused on the new strategic framework that is to be finalized in January. It’s designed that the strategic plans of every school/college will fit into this, and any unit should be able to build from it. Mayrl walked through the changes from the last plan; for instance there’s a call out to sustainability. The UC recommended adding a sentence reaffirming the university’s commitment to shared governance. The ensuing discussion revolved around implementation, feedback, examples.

UC meetings for December 23 and December 30 are cancelled.

Sandgren moved to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss personnel matters; it was seconded at 2:54. Two rule waivers were approved and potential members of two search and screen committees were identified.

Warfield reconvened the meeting to adjourn at 3:37.