University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-04-13

Minutes for April 13, 2026

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

Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Becky Jacobs, Genevieve Lambert, Sabine Martin

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

Bernard-Donals motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(a)(c) and (f) to discuss a grievance and chair election at 1:01 pm.

Bernard-Donals motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 1:07 pm.

There are a lot of questions about instructional workload that have been registered for the town hall this afternoon. The University Committee reviewed the senate agenda for May.

Ajay Sethi, co-chair, Health Care Advisory Committee, and Lindsay Barber, Chief Operating Officer, University Health Services, shared updates on the Health Care Advisory Committee. In 2024-25 the committee covered topics such as reaccreditation, budget and planning, mental health care, sexual assault, treatment and recovery for substance use and medical care. This year, they are covering similar topics, but also communicable diseases and team based care.

Provost John Zumbrunnen heard concerns from the University Committee regarding international remote work for graduate students who are doing research abroad. There are concerns regarding graduate students who are doing research abroad, but working as a TA, PA or student hourly.

Provost Zumbrunnen discussed his current thinking regarding the leadership structure in the provost office. He would like to take the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and expand and elevate the position to a vice provost for undergraduate education/affairs. This position would be engaged with Division of Teaching and Learning; Division of Enrollment Management; and Data, Academic Planning and Institutional Research to form an undergraduate team.

There was a discussion about shared governance for topics touching graduate education. The UC will explore this topic further.

Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska provided information on ideas she has to continue divisional representation in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. She is going to meet with the associate vice chancellors for social sciences and arts and humanities to discuss how the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research can support these areas.

She confirmed that the fall competition for 2026 will include the amount available for distribution in 2024. She also shared a draft mission and vision for the office.

Jones adjourned the meeting at 3:42 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.