Chair’s Report for February
22, 2005
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.
Various
Senates from across the system have been passing resolutions on topics such as:
·
Governor
Doyle’s 05-07 Budget proposal
·
Investments
& Social Responsibility – referring to the UW System Trust Fund Investments
·
Travel
Plans – proposal for using one travel agency for all UW System
·
The
Marriage Amendment and
·
Domestic
Partner Benefits
Access to copies of the various resolutions is
available through the Senate web site at:
http://www.uwec.edu/usenate/OffCampusIssues.htm
Note – It has been discovered that UW System is
maintaining a list of campus senates (faculty, academic staff, and student)
that have passes resolutions (A) against the Marriage Amendment; (b) in support
of Domestic Partner Benefits; and (C) both A & B or in support of the
Inclusivity Initiative. This list has been distributed to all Regents and to
others by request.
Faculty Reps Meeting –
next meeting by teleconference, March 4, 2005
Board of Regents Meeting
– February 10 & 11, Madison; next meeting March 10 & 11, Madison
February 10 - http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2005/r050210a.htm
February 11 - http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2005/r050211c.htm
1.
The
University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on
Thursday unanimously approved a plan to consolidate the Madison-based
administrative offices of two UW System institutions under the leadership of a
single chancellor, a move that will strengthen university programs, while
saving as much as $1.5 million per year. Regent Guy Gottschalk of Wisconsin
Rapids encouraged the system to roll any savings realized from the
consolidation back to the core missions of UW-Extension and the UW Colleges.
Regent Jose Olivieri added that the two institutions should be encouraged to be
creative and to feel free to collaborate.
2.
The
good and the bad of the Governor’s proposed budget were presented. See http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2005/r050210a.htm
for details.
3.
Extensive
accountability measures were proposed by the Board of Regents on Thursday to
bring new urgency to achieving diversity in student, faculty and staff
populations, while achieving a welcoming climate on campuses throughout the UW
System. The full Board heard presentations on the current state of Plan 2008:
Educational Quality Through Racial and Ethnic
Diversity. It was noted that campuses were charged by the Regents with
submitting plans by December that describe how they will reach seven distinct
goals. Discussion continues between System Administration and the campuses to
finalize the plans by March. Adopting system-wide a diversity accountability
report card with measurable goals that will track the progress made by UWSA and
the institutions in closing the achievement gap between UW students of color
and white students will be done by June 2005. Resolution passed included four
points:
·
Institute
a systemwide Diversity Award, similar to the Regents Teaching Excellence Award,
recognizing excellence in diversity programming or achievement.
·
Working
with the Board, the President will refocus the evaluation of Chancellors with
respect to their work on diversity and on progress with Plan 2008 Phase II and
integration with institutional mission.
·
Subsequent
changes to campus Phase II plans must describe their accountability process,
including incentives and penalties for success and failure to close the
achievement gap.
·
The
Education Committee passed a resolution to include gender identity or
expression in the UW System policy documents on nondiscrimination.
Legislative Update
1.
AJR-15, a measure to
condemn University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill's speech, is on the
Assembly agenda for Tuesday, February 22.
The resolution also urges Chancellor Jack Miller to cancel the speech
and the Board of Regents to "conduct a review of hiring and tenure
procedures to determine if appropriate policies exist to prevent the hiring of
and, if necessary, the timely dismissal of faculty failing to meet honorable
academic standards of conduct expected by students, parents, and
taxpayers."
2.
February
22 - The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee will hold a public
hearing on February 22, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 225 Northwest of the State
Capitol. The Committee will meet to take
up three bills:
3.
March
2 - There will be a joint meeting of the Assembly Colleges and Universities
Committee and Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee at 10:00 a.m. on
March 2 in Room 417 North.
· The hearing will include invited guests to speak on UW System restructuring plans, credit-transfers, and opportunities presented by higher education consortiums to improve administrative efficiencies. This will include Rep. Kreibich's proposal to make the 2-year UW Colleges satellites of four-year UW institutions, and UW System President Reilly’s proposal to merge the administration functions of the UW Colleges and UW Extension.
· Invited guests will include UW System President Reilly, Wisconsin Technical College System President Dan Clancy, and Midwest Higher Education Compact (MHEC) President Larry Isaak. Isaak will discuss student exchanges and savings that could be achieved by participation in insurance and procurement contracts negotiated by the Midwest Higher Education Compact.
4.
Bills
and Board of Regent positions will be posted at: www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/govrel/pending/index.htm
~~~~ Chancellor Mash ~~~~
Thanks for the way you
supported the concept of shared governance during your time here.
We wish you the best in
your new role at System.