University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-04-06

Minutes for April 6, 2026 

UC members present: Bernard-Donals, Chui, de Leon, Jones, Kendall, Mathieu

Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Ashley Hagen, Becky Jacobs, Adam Kindschy, Sabine Martin, Julie Scharm

Chair Annie Jones called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

April Haynes, Aireale Rodgers, Annie Menzel and Allison Useche presented a resolution on requests regarding the possible presence of immigration agents on campus. The UC provided comments and feedback on the resolution.

Chui motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers at 1:34 pm. Three tenure clock extensions were approved.

Chui motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 1:41 pm.

J. Michael Collins and Carol Hulland presented the Retirement Issues Committee annual report. They have created a resource list for retirement with resources on preparing in many ways including mentally and physically.

Jonathan Sencyhne, chair of the Library Resources Committee for the Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, presented their annual report. They are a relatively new committee and still finding their way. Discussions this year centered around decreases in the collections budget and the increasing cost of journals. There is a capital project underway in the special collections area within Memorial Library to replace an outdated fire suppression system.

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin shared that a meeting notice had been posted regarding the possible firing of the UW System President. The state senate did pass the NIL bill, and it has gone to the governor’s desk for approval or veto.

The chancellor is wrapping up the strategic framework, which should be shared in the next couple days with campus. It is a framing document, not a strategic plan and can be used by schools/colleges to work on their strategic planning. The final governance pieces for implementation of the new school/college are wrapping up in the next several weeks.

The minutes from March 30, 2026, meeting were approved.The University Committee has received a lot of questions regarding instructional workload for its town hall on Monday, April 13 from 4-5. 

The University Committee discussed next week’s guests.

Jones adjourned the meeting at 3:07 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.