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Minutes
FACULTY SENATE MEETING
September 30, 2014
Ballroom B, MSC
2:30 – 4:30 P.M.
CHAIR: Petre Ghenciu
VICE CHAIR: Ana Vande Linde
SECRETARY: Kevin Drzakowski
PRESENT: Amanda Barnett, Lopa Basu, Bryan Beamer, Amanda Brown, Kathleen Deery, Kevin Drzakowski, Barb
Flom, Bert Fraher, Petre (Nelu) Ghenciu, Ted Harris, Glenda Jones, Anne Kerber, Matthew Kuchta, Virginia Lea, Eun
Joo Lee, Kate Maury, Esuvat Mollel, Brian Oenga, Marlann Patterson, Christine Peterson, Forrest Schultz, Jeffrey
Sweat, Kevin W. Tharp, Loretta Thielman, Ana Vande Linde, Keith Wojciechowski, Bob Zeidel, Julie Zaloudek
ABSENT: Michael Bessert (excused), David Ding (excused), Gene Gutman (excused), Adam Kramschuster, Steve
Terry, Cameron Weaver, and Dean Wirtanen
GUESTS: Chancellor Bob Meyer, Jackie Weissenburger, Phil Lyons, Doug Mell and Deb Gehrke
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Call to Order (Chair, Nelu Ghenciu) The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m.
Roll Call – Sign Attendance Sheet
Minutes of September 2, 2014
Motion to approve: (Deery/Thielman) Motion passed with two abstentions.
Administration Reports
1. Chancellor’s Report
 Stout wishes to pursue three engineering programs: mechanical, chemical, and
electrical. UW System has asked for a study to be conducted regarding the need for
these programs. UW-Stout conducted its own study which found such a need for these
programs in our area; the Chancellor expects System’s report to reflect the same. The
report was due in July, but was not ready by the time Chancellor Meyer was appointed.
The report still has not been sent. Stout is attempting to work collaboratively with
UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls as planning goes forward. The expectation is the
programs will roll out in this order: mechanical, chemical, and electrical.
 The Foundation will be looking into hiring a firm to gauge the feasibility of fundraising
in various areas.
 With budgets as they are, we will continue to look for additional external funding.
 The Board of Regents meets next at Stevens Point. Campus reserves will likely be a
topic of discussion.
 The campus is continuing to find ways to manage the budget cuts.
 A survey is out on the new HRS system, which is due by the end of the day today.
 The Chancellor spoke further on the planning for the proposed new engineering
programs. He addressed resistance coming from other UW campuses, noting that it is
unlikely that our programs would negatively impact other campuses.
2. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs’ Report/Vice Chancellor for Student Life
Services/Executive Director of Communications
 Stout has a Notice of Intent to Plan under consideration for a B.S. in Digital Marketing
Technology program. A response has been expected from UW System, but hasn’t been
received yet.
 A search for a new Director of International Education will be under way at the end of
this semester.
 A search will also take place for a new Director of Graduate Education. The Provost is
considering changing this position to a Dean. If this change took place, other offices
such as Research Services and/or Stout Online might be placed under this dean. The
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Provost was asked why such changes might be considered. Reports in the past, she
explained, have indicated that the Graduate Director currently has limited power and
impact on campus. This could help eliminate duplication of responsibilities.
 The Provost was asked about a survey soliciting feedback on the Center for the Applied
Ethics and Research Services. The Provost wasn’t aware of this survey but will look
into the matter.
 Vice Chancellor Lyons added that McCalmont Hall is now open again. Renovation on
Harvey Hall is going well. As many trees as possible surrounding the building were
saved.
 Lyons also explained that our sustainability coordinator has arranged for a vehicle from
Rent-a-car to be available for rental. There is a two hundred mile limit. The
information on the rentals can be found on the Sustainability website.
 Lyons was asked if staff could see the plans for the Harvey renovation. Doug Mell
stated he will send the link to Linda, who can distribute it to senators.
 Doug Mell announced an on-campus Alumni and Friends tailgate party, a new event
for Homecoming this year. Mell will send the link with the Homecoming information
to Linda.
V. Announcements
1. Other - Deb Gehrke reported on the new university personnel system. Highlights included:
 This system would move classified staff under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents,
rather than the state. Two additional surveys will be sent out by Human Resources
seeking feedback on proposed policies for classified staff. Our campus-specific
policies will have to fit within the System policy; the current surveys are only dealing
with the umbrella, system-level policy.
 The survey is only seeking information on how these policies will impact classified
staff.
 Gehrke stressed the most of the changes taking place will affect solely classified staff;
however, there may be some limited changes affecting faculty, including changes to the
catastrophic leave policy.
 Concern was expressed that the governance groups were not adequately involved in the
changes on campus.
 Gehrke stated that she is responsible for delivering feedback to System by October 1st.
 Some senators expressed a desire for a document highlighting the actual changes that
are being proposed.
 It is possible that the feedback-soliciting process has been rushed in order to get the
UPS in the governor’s biennial budget.
 Chair Ghenciu proposed that faculty feedback be separately sent to System, to allow
the classified and academic staff response to be sent by the deadline. This would allow
for more time to consider the issue and complete the survey.
 A succinct summary of the proposed changes was requested from HR.
 Ten sessions have been scheduled for the campus to learn about the new highdeductible health plans.
VI. Unfinished Business
1. Discussion/Decision Items
a. Miscellaneous Business
VII. New Business
1. Graduate Commencement Survey Results-Renee Chandler
 A better time is being sought for the graduate commencement ceremony. The last
ceremony was Sunday afternoon. However, this is Mother’s Day, and the separate
setup on this day has been taxing. The Graduate Education Committee conducted a
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survey and found that most respondents preferred Saturday evening. Feedback from
constituents should be sought on this.
 The December commencement has not been an issue with lower graduates. May
commencement has the most attendees.
 A motion on this is expected at the next senate meeting.
2. Upcoming Elections
a. All University Promotions Committee Results
Motion to approve: (Fenton/Jones) Moved to approve the results. Motion approved.
b. Call for Nominations for Faculty Senate, Standing Committees and University
Committees - The nomination call is coming out tomorrow at 8 a.m.
2. Committee Approvals
a. Policy Revision – Nagesh Shinde volunteered.
Motion to approve: (Vande Linde/Basu) Moved to approve Shinde’s naming to the
committee. Motion approved.
b. Website Oversight Committee – Faculty representative needed (term ends 5/30/2015).
Senators should ask their constituents for interested volunteers and it will also be on the
nomination call vacancy.
c. Diversity Leadership Team seeking nominations for the Board of Regents Diversity
Award. Please see the website http://www.uwstout.edu/parq/bordiversityaward.cfm
3. Discussion/Decision Items
a. Updating the Faculty Senate web pages – Drzakowski and Borofka will be updating the
Faculty Senate Webpages gradually over the academic year. Feel free to contact them
for any recommendations or to volunteer assistance.
b. Updating the FASLA Handbook – meeting on September 24th. Kevin Drzakowski,
Jennifer Lee, and Erin Dunbar are on a committee revising FASLA.
 The Senate’s consensus was that language on System policies can be eliminated
wherever possible as long as a link to the policy is kept.
c. Follow-up on Feedback on the definition of campus bullying (Campus Climate Survey
Results.
 One department was concerned that there is not someone with a specific job title
devoted to addressing issues of harassment. An Affirmative Action officer would
be helpful, along with an Ombudsman. The ability for faculty and staff to evaluate
HR is important.
 Defining bullying might be a starting point. CEHHS is already working on a
definition for this.
 An open forum could provide useful suggestions on how to deal with issues that
were highlighted in the survey.
 Some departments wanted more time to provide feedback on the survey results.
 Bringing in a workshop leader or a speaker could be a useful step for addressing
the results, perhaps for January professional development week.
 A different survey could focus on solutions.
 The Workplace Bullying Institute was named as a resource.
 Change coming from the level of deans and department chairs was stressed as
important.
 HR Director Gehrke was asked if exit interviews are done. Exit surveys are
completed when individuals leave campus, but HR cannot determine what unit the
departing individual comes from.
d. Updated Committee Listings - Amanda Brown. The updated list is available on the
Faculty Senate website. Brown noted that this is a working document, one that should
be updated every year.
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VIII. Information Items
1. Faculty Senate Dashboard
2. PPC Charges - three of them
 The first charge asks PPC to consider revisions to the Education Preparation Codes.
The educational preparation codes have become an issue for graduate education; this
could be a good reason for expanding our restrictions for what constitutes the higher
preparation codes.
 The second charge asks PPC to devise a process for selecting faculty members for high
level administrative searches.
 The third charge deals with possible revisions to the dates on which faculty
performance objectives are required.
3. Other – Faculty Chairs Meeting
 Chair Ghenciu reported on the proceedings of the meeting of Faculty Senate Chairs.
An upcoming meeting at UW-Oshkosh will examine the future of regional public
universities.
 A representative at the meeting spoke on implementing the changes in the Voter ID law
on campuses.
 The nine vs. twelve month payroll issue was also discussed.
 The transition into the new UPS was discussed.
IX. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 4:26.