Chair’s Report for March 30, 2004

 

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 noon on the day of the Senate meeting.

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.

 

Senate Actions signed off by the Chancellor

1.        New Computer Engineering Emphasis

2.        New Prefix for Computer Engineering, CE

 

Faculty Reps Meeting – March 26th

1.        A time of silence in respect for Chancellor Lydecker was held followed by reflections on her life.

2.        TABOR was discussed. Similar to items presented to Academic Staff. See that Report for detailed information.

3.        UWS/WCTS Transfer Agreement update. Group to outline implementation procedures has been working. Provosts have reviewed suggestions. Results to be distributed to campuses soon. Faculty has ultimate decision-making power over what will and will not be accepted from the Technical Colleges. Hope is, however, that consensus can be reached on some core set of courses that all campuses will accept.

4.        Impact on Budget Cuts discussed. Plans for 2005-2007 biennium initiatives include financial aid for students and attracting and retaining quality faculty. Initiatives will be discussed by the Regents in April.

5.        Update on Board of Regents workgroups given. Full report with recommendations to be given to the Board in May.

6.        Plan 2008, Phase II, briefly discussed. Key is for each campus to take a serious look at how much progress has been made over the last 5 years of the plan and determine what can be done in the next 5.

7.        Inclusivity Initiative revealed. System vision is that in five years, the UW System will have attained a national reputation for being a leader in LGBTQ inclusivity. The aim of the initiative is to:

a.        Ensure that the educational experience and campus climate at each of the institutions are diverse, equitable and welcoming for all students, including LGBTQ students;

b.       Facilitate the development of networks among all UW student LGBTQ organizations that support active exchange of information and resources internal and external to the UW System;

c.        Model diversity in- and outside the classroom by providing all students access to diverse faculty, staff and administrator mentors and student support professionals who facilitate their learning by ensuring safety and valuing all forms of diversity, and who model the success of diverse employees;

d.       Identify and make available best practices, e.g., pedagogical practices on diversity; models of domestic partner benefits for students, faculty and staff; services that increase student success;

e.        Advance communication concerning these topics within, across and beyond our institutions; and

f.         Improve the connections among the broad range of diversity efforts within the UW System.

Four work groups have been created: Access/Retention, Classroom/Campus Climate, Initiative Research and Evaluation, Community Outreach and Advocacy. Our two campus representatives to this initiative are: Dr. Kimberly Barrett, Associate VC for Student Development and Diversity and Dr. Barbara Stevens, Affirmative Action.

 

Board of Regents Meeting – April 1st & 2nd in Madison

 

Legislative Update

1.        The Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office informed Regent President Marcovich that its examination of the past practice of small numbers of regents conducting telephone conference calls prior to regent meetings did not violate the state open meetings law.

2.        Bills passed and sent to the Governor:

a.        AB-207.  Banning smoking in and around University of Wisconsin System residence halls and dormitories and provides a penalty.

b.       SB-253.  Allows four more UW institutions to charter K-12 schools with BOR approval.

c.        AB-869/SB-513. Exemption from non-resident tuition within the UW System for certain veterans.

3.        A summary of Legislative action on all bills affecting the UW System will be prepared following adjournment. The Legislature is due back April 27-29 for a limited business session and May 11-13 for a veto session.  An extraordinary session may be added to either of these calendars or later in the spring, to address AJR-55 (TABOR) and other issues.