Chair’s Report for
Senate update
1.
Important
links to agendas, minutes, Chair's Reports and other sites of interest are
available
on the Senate web site: http://www.uwec.edu/Usenate.
Senate Chair’s Report will be available on this site by
2.
During
debates, Senators may speak only twice to any motion or amendment. Each
speaking term is limited to 10 minutes. The Chair will add names of those
wishing to speak to a speaker's list upon recognition.
1. Renaming ART
Majors; Eliminating KINS/MUSI Majors
Academic
staff senator raised possibility of scheduling senate agenda items with
business academic staff senators could vote on occurring first so they might
excuse themselves at its completion
·
Most business seems to be for faculty consideration in their role as
‘producers’ at university; seems waste of two hours when have no say in matters
anyway – just looking to make better use of time
·
Too late to change this year, but could consider when set order of
business for 41st Session of Senate next year
·
Believe that is bad idea – we remain a University Senate; allows people
on this campus to get a better big picture than those on campuses with separate
academic staff and faculty senates
·
Whether discussing academic staff or faculty issues, educational process
works in both directions
·
No restriction on involvement in discussion on any issue; can add insight
into discussion, just cannot vote
·
All about issues from university perspective – informed community best
prepared for shared governance
·
Chancellor never votes, would mean he should not attend either
Other Items from Senate
Executive Committee Meeting
Concern
expressed about request from Senate Office for possible amendments to be
submitted in advance for distribution prior to meeting
·
Seemed to set precedent that amendments must be printed (on blue paper) to
be considered
·
Also concerned amendment distributed prior to motion that was to be
amended introduced
·
Understand desire for time to think through possible changes
·
Still think strange to have amendment out before motion on the floor
·
Letter from department chairs against program review revisions
disseminated in similar manner
·
See difference because information, not amendment
·
Also were amendments distributed that were not even made
·
Would like to set standard procedure to deal with amendments and their
distribution
·
Much easier to consider when able to read off paper rather than just
hearing changes
·
Especially important if making substantial changes
·
Also accessibility issues – when papers handed out during meeting, are
those who cannot read them
·
One more reason to adhere to two readings procedure
·
Concern expressed before, but continue to suspend rules with regularity
·
See problem when something complex is amended on floor of Senate – even
in second reading
·
Substantial changes can be made without being able to think about or
consult about issues
·
Would favor having those amendments in writing and out as soon as
possible
·
Concerned precedent of having amendments written up intimidates people so
don’t make amendments because not fully prepared in writing – might inhibit
open discussion and revisions
·
According to Robert’s Rules of Order, sheets of paper are part of
discussion
·
No rule about what can be printed, but anything that would tend to impede
open discussion should not be allowed
·
Seems circulating blue sheet at beginning instead of in midst of debate
would tend to do that
·
Apart from Robert’s Rules, intuitively give standing to amendments passed
out in advance
·
Is individual prerogative, if feel strongly and plan to amend, to speak
and pass out amendment in written form
·
Handing out in advance gives credence prematurely
·
Chair of Senate does have prerogative as to what gets distributed; also
chair’s responsibility to seek out verbal amendments
·
Consensus to leave distribution of amendments up to individual senator
Faculty Reps Meeting
Next meeting in
Board of Regents Meeting
– March 4th & 5th in
The proposed "Taxpayers
Bill of Rights" or TABOR was discussed in the Regents' Business and Finance
Committee. Lyall and committee members expressed concern about how tuition,
gifts and grants, financial aid and bonding authority would be treated under
proposed Wisconsin TABOR legislation. Gard, R-Peshtigo, predicted the proposed
legislation would pass both houses of the Legislature later this spring,
possibly during a special session in May. He told the committee that university
gifts and grants and bonding authority likely would not be significant parts of
the legislation. He was unsure how tuition would be treated under the proposal.
Currently, the Legislature and the governor set the limits under which tuition
can be raised for UW resident undergraduates by the Board of Regents. The
regents control tuition for non-resident and graduate students. Lyall told the
committee that a tuition cap could limit the number of students the university
could educate. Gard said he thought the legislation should not have to limit
enrollment.
UW System Associate Vice
President for Learning & Information Technology Ed Meachen explained that
technology is transforming higher education and the university system. Kathy
Pletcher, head of information services at UW-Green Bay, told the regents that
the number of online-related courses and enrollment in the UW System has grown
tremendously. In 1999, there were about 1,200 online-related classes and 16,000
students. In 2003, those numbers grew to approximately 6,800 courses and
159,000 students. Last year alone, the number of online courses and students
taking them jumped 33 percent. Meachen outlined several challenges to
information technology in the future: state budget cuts; continued support of
faculty using technology; campus collaboration during a time of declining
resources; and the university remaining free of state restrictions on computer
network issues.
Education committee revisited
the importance of general education. The skills required for college graduates
to become productive workers and citizens have developed over time, and the
general education requirements on UW campuses that build those skills have
undergone a similar evolution. The UW System adheres to a board policy that
states the importance of general education outcomes—that is, the skills that
develop from studies in the humanities, arts and social sciences—rather than an
emphasis on specific coursework.
Business and Finance
Committee reviewed differential tuition guidelines. The board in 1996 first
approved flexibilities for tuition setting. In 1999 the board approved a policy
outlining student involvement in differential tuition initiatives. Stephanie
Hilton, academic affairs director for United Council, noted that students need
to be consulted on differential tuition plans, and that these guidelines
document the steps that had previously been more informally taken between
students and the UW System. Brian Tanner, shared governance director for United
Council, stated that students are opposed to differential tuition programs that
are used to backfill state budget cuts and supplement state support.
The committee heard a report
from George Brooks, associate vice president for human resources, regarding the
number of actual layoffs and non-renewal of employee contracts due to budget
cuts. Brooks outlined that 103 employees have lost their jobs due to either
direct layoffs or the non-renewal of their annual employment contract. He noted
that most other positions out of the 325 to be cut this year were vacancies not
filled. Brooks said the UW System will face a stiff challenge next year when it
must cut an additional 325 positions as part of budget cuts from the state.
State Building Commission in
its annual ceremony honored excellence in design construction for state
projects. Gov. Jim Doyle presented the awards to the recipients, one of which
was Market and Johnson of Eau Claire for excellence in construction of the
Chancellor's Hall project.
The members of the UW System
President Search-and-Screen Committee, which will lead the effort to hire Lyall’s replacement were announced. The committee’s charge
will be to identify and select finalists to be considered as a replacement for
UW System President Katharine C. Lyall. Members of the Search-and-Screen
Committee include: Regent David G. Walsh of Madison, who will chair the
committee; Mark Bugher, director of the UW-Madison
University Research Park; Regent Elizabeth Burmaster
of Madison, who is state superintendent of public instruction; Michael Grebe of
Milwaukee, regent president emeritus; David Hay, student government president,
UW-Stout; Joseph Heim, professor of political science, UW-La Crosse; Thomas
Lyon of Cambridge, regent president emeritus; David Markee,
chancellor, UW-Platteville; David Olien, senior vice
president for administration, UW System; Kathy Pletcher, associate provost,
UW-Green Bay; Regent Charles Pruitt of
Milwaukee; Regent Beth Richlen of Madison, also a UW
law student; Regent Peggy Rosenzweig of Wauwatosa; Regent Jesus Salas of Milwaukee; Jay L. Smith of
Middleton, regent president emeritus; and Peter Spear, provost, UW-Madison. Two
additional members will be named—one faculty and one academic staff—to the
search-and-screen committee before Tuesday’s meeting, which will bring the
total number of committee members to 18. The search-and-screen committee will
report its recommendations to a regent selection committee, which will then
interview finalists and recommend a new president to the full board. Regent
President Marcovich will serve as co-chair of the
Regent Selection Committee along with Regent Guy Gottschalk of Wisconsin Rapids,
who is immediate past president of the board. Members include Regents Roger E.
Axtell of Janesville, Mark J. Bradley of Wausau, Danae
Davis of Milwaukee and David Walsh of Madison.
UW System President Lyall
noted the governor and Legislature have found short-term solutions to manage
projected state budget shortfalls for the current year, but the university must
remain aware of continuing financial pressures as its enters the 2005-07 budget
cycle. Providing sufficient financial aid for students will be among the major
challenges facing the board in the coming biennium, and must be considered one
of the university’s foremost priorities, she said. Freda Harris, UW System
associate vice president for budget and planning, presented a preview of three
financial aid proposals that are likely to be submitted as part of the UW
System’s 2005-07 budget request based on findings from the working group on
Partnership with the State. The working group has recommended that the
university concentrate financial aid proposals toward
achieving three goals:
access, retention and “brain gain.” Harris said the budget requests will
include state GPR dollars to continue current financial aid commitments, now
being paid for using UW student fee dollars; to meet the statutory requirement
to increase the percentage of state financial aid at the same rate as tuition;
and to develop a program to provide a “dollar match” program that will cover
the full amount of tuition increases for the university’s neediest students.
The full board approved a
resolution Friday that encourages the state Assembly majority leader to
schedule a vote on a bill that could result in the appointment of an additional
student regent. The resolution states that the two-year appointment of the
student regent position can cause difficulties related to turnover and
transition, and encourages the appointment of an additional student who will
represent nontraditional students, such as employed students or parents. The
bill would require that the student themselves be nontraditional, an
undergraduate and at least 24 years old. Several regents indicated that they
were uncomfortable with several aspects of the resolution as proposed,
including the precedent such a measure could set by appointing board members to
represent groups with a particular interest. Other regents noted that students
fund more than 40 percent of the university’s budget through tuition and are
entitled to a greater voice in university policymaking. Regent Davis moved that
the board amend the resolution to remove a clause in which the board would have
taken an affirmative position on the bill. The amendment passed 10-6. The
amended resolution was approved 12-4.
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents and the Wisconsin
Technical College System Board on Friday (March 5) appointed a joint committee
to address the state’s brain-gain needs by developing recommendations to expand
the number of bachelor’s degree holders in Wisconsin. The committee was formed
in response to a series of recommendations to both boards in December by a
joint UW-WTCS task force charged with identifying ways of expanding college
opportunities for Wisconsin citizens and further facilitating course credit
transfer between the two systems. The committee will be jointly chaired by UW
System Regent Charles Pruitt of Milwaukee and Wisconsin Technical College Board
member Brent Smith of La Crosse. Other members include: UW System Regents Roger
E. Axtell and Eileen Connolly-Keesler; Technical
College Board members Allen Kehl and Mary Cuene; UW System Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Cora Marrett; WTCS Vice President Deborah Mahaffey;
UW Colleges Chancellor William Messner; Western
Wisconsin Technical College President Lee Rasch;
UW-Stout Provost Robert Sedlak; Northwest Wisconsin
Technical College Provost Lori Weyers; Moraine Park
Technical College faculty member Mary Alsteens;
UW-Superior student Joseph Stensland; Chippewa Valley
Technical College student Cherish Mudgett. A UW faculty member yet to be named will be
added in the near future. Lyall and Carpenter have asked the committee to look
at six areas: collect data on degree production across all sectors of higher
education in Wisconsin; seek input from decision makers in business and
government on future workforce needs; identify gains to the state from the
expansion of baccalaureate degree holders; consider the challenges associated
with expansion and options for meeting those challenges; review strategies that
other states have employed to meet such needs; and consider proposals for
graduating more non-traditional, adult students.
Legislative Update
Bills that could receive
action in both houses before adjournment:
AB-207. Bans smoking in and around University of
Wisconsin System residence halls and dormitories and provides a penalty;
AB-342. Makes a student convicted of certain drug violations
ineligible for state financial aid; SB-85 AB 208 Adds a non-traditional student
to the membership of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin
System; SB-253. Allows four more UW institutions to charter K-12 schools
with BOR approval
The Senate unanimously
confirmed Board of Regents appointees Eileen Connolly-Keesler,
Jesus Salas, Mark Bradley and David Walsh.