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MINUTES
2014/2015 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Faculty Senate
Tuesday, April 14, 2:15 p.m.
University Center UC275B
http://www.uww.edu/facsenate
1. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 2:19 PM
2. Roll Call
1. Senators present: Ambrose, Barger, Brady, Bren, Ciganek, Compas, Dugan, Gapinski,
Ghavamshahidi, Gulig, Hartwick, Ivry, Kumpaty, Levy-Navarro, Madan. Mandell Mukherjee,
Munro, Portman, Sankaranarayanan, Schneider, Schultz, Splinter, Tillett, Toms, Veldkamp,
Weston, Zhang, Zhou
2. Senators absent: (*informed Secretary) Ahmadi*, Holmes*, Hsu, Kopf, Winchell*, Zhang*
3. Approval of Minutes:
1. Minutes of the 2014-2015 Faculty Senate Meeting, March 10, 2015. (Action Item: attached)
Approved on a Mandell/Portman motion with one editorial correction. The phrase “and survey the
faculty on budget issues” is added to the end of the final sentence. FS1415-41
4. Reports of Committees:
1. Faculty Senate Executive Committee:
a. Faculty Senate Chair Election process (information item). Chair Munro distributed a handout and
explained the process. At the request of Senator Mandell, the current and former Faculty Senate
chairs present commented on the importance of the position at this time. They stressed a need for
good communication skills. Nominations should be sent to the Secretary of the Senate. Senators
were reminded that a new secretary will also be needed.
2. University Curriculum Committee:
a. Transmittal of actions of the University Curriculum Committee (action Item: Attached) March
20, 2015 Courseleaf is now being used for submissions. There was discussion about some of the
Courseleaf changes – nine forms are now three, how well is automated consultation working,
where did “assessment data motivating the proposal” come from. AVC Cook responded that the
UCC had reviewed all changes. Approved on a Gulig/Compas motion. FS1415-42
3. Campus Landscaping and Planning Committee
The report was given by James Hartwick, Faculty Senate representative to the committee. The
stone monument behind the Visitors’ Center is being moved to the corner of Schwager and Warhawk
Drives. The uses of Hamilton Field are under discussion which raised questions from Senators about
the effect on HPERC classes that use it for PE teaching instruction. Volunteer gardens are being
reviewed on a case-by-case basis. New on-campus information kiosks are being developed.
Buildings and Grounds staff are making birdhouses for sale in the Bookstore. The Little Red
Schoolhouse is getting new landscaping of native plants. The Committee is discussing developing
financial sponsorships for campus gardens, dealing with invasive plants in Friar’s Woods, Starin Hall
landscaping, and adding Housing and Athletic Department representatives. WSG is working with
them to develop a bicycle rental program.
4. University Standards Committee
Chair Hepsi Kupaty distributed a handout on the functions, membership, and activities. The only
remaining College standards document needing approval is Arts & Communication. They
submitted a draft and it was returned with the Committee’s comments in December 2014.
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5. Faculty Budget Committee
The committee reported on the results of the faculty survey, which had a statistically significant
response. They drafted a set of recommendations which were the basis of their presentation and
which will be discussed with the Chancellor on April 24. The concepts include reducing
Intercollegiate Athletics costs, possible mergers of campus units, administrative efficiencies,
improvements to advising and information technology support, and changes to the Chartwell
contract. There was discussion. The Chancellor requested a copy of their data.
5. Old Business:
None
6. New Business:
1. Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Graduation Resolution. (action item) Approved on a
Gulig/Kumpaty motion. FS1415-43
Resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater recommends to the
University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
students who have applied for graduation in May 2015 and who have been certified by the University
Registrar to have met all academic requirements and completed all of their courses of study be
granted their degrees at the May 2015 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater commencement exercises.
2. Follow up / review of newly implemented course schedule (Jodi Hare and Matt Aschenbrener)
(information item – no action) Feedback on the first year of the new schedule was requested. Generally,
faculty senators expressed satisfaction. Two concerns raised were (1) approval for off-grid class time is
complicated and (2) there are coordination problems between evening classes and athletic practices. There
was sentiment that coaches need to be reminded that academics trump athletics.
3. Update on chancellor search and screen (Paul Ambrose) (information item – no action)
The committee is on schedule and will do off-site interviews over the weekend of Apri1 11/12. President
Cross will visit campus on April 30 to meet with the committee to make final candidate decisions.
Candidates will be announced May 1 and the first visit will be May 4. Senators are encouraged to attecn
the open forums and provide feedback. If you know people at the home institutions of any candidate, you
are allowed to talk to them about a candidate and provide information.
Hepsi Kumpaty will draft a resolution of appreciation for Chancellor Telfer for consideration at the May
meeting. It was suggested that there be some special recognition given the Chancellor at graduation.
4. Department standards:
Computer Sciences (action item: attached) Approved on a Gulig/Mandell motion. FS1415-44
5. Retirement Resolutions (action items: attached) All approved on a Kumpaty/Ghavamshahidi motion.
FS1415-45
Tom Bramorski – Supply Chain Management
Jerry J Gosenpud – Management
Ron Berger - Department of Sociology, Criminology & Anthropology
Marvin Free - Department of Sociology, Criminology & Anthropology
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6. Resolution for Ad Hoc committee to Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Committee Representing UWW Faculty
Regarding Shared Governance and Tenure (action items: attached)
Moved for consideration by Ghavamshahidi/Hartwick. The resolution was submitted to the Executive
Committee by a group of faculty concerned about faculty representation on the Regents committees on
shared governance and tenure. Dr. Kopper was not submitted for membership by the campus, but was
asked to serve by the Regents Committee. She will be happy to work with the Ad-Hoc committee, if
approved. Chair Munro distributed handouts on the composition of the Regents Committees. After
discussion, the motion was approved. FS1415-46 A call for members will be put out for election at the
May meeting.
7. Gen Ed Review Committee discussion on updates being considered to the General Education Outcomes
(information item – no action) Chair Elizabeth Olson distributed a copy of the “Proposed New Learning
Goals and Outcomes, General Education Program (December 2014)”. As the General Education goals had
not been revised since 1992, the Committee took a long look at them as they worked to incorporate the
LEAP model. The new goals will apply to all thirty-two credits and most course will have to re-certify.
They would like comments, which may be sent to gened@uww.edu.
8. An update on the HLC process (information item – no action) Dean John Stone handed out the draft
Executive summary of the Assurance Arguments. Information on the members of the HLC visit team are
now on the website. Please review and comment on the draft Assurance Arguments. One hundred nine
schools have now been reviewed under the new rubric – 70% have been asked for follow-up reports.
Sections 4B, 4A, 4C, 5A, and 5C (in that order) appear to be the sections giving problems.
9. Discussion on Faculty Service (information item – no action) Postponed to May meeting.
10. Resolution related to Concerns regarding the composition of the Board of Regents Shared Governance
Task Force (action item: attached) Note: Will require motion to suspend the rules to take action
Hartwick/Brady moved to suspend the rules; motion passed. Compas/Brady moved consideration of the
resolution; Compas spoke in favor of approval. Faculty expressed a concern that the committees seem
weighted towards administrators. Chancellor Telfer commented that the Regents do not perceive a lack of
balance. After further discussion, Mandell/Ghavamshahidi called the question; motion approved. FS141547 Chair Munro is asked to distribute the resolution to the Regents and other Faculty Representatives.
Concerns regarding the composition of the Board of Regents Shared Governance Task
Force
WHEREAS the UW System Board of Regents have convened a task force to assess potential
impacts of the proposed Governor’s 2015-2017 Biennial Budget and the proposed UW System
Authority on shared governance.
WHEREAS the composition of this task force does not reflect the distribution of shared
governance rights in faculty, academic staff, and students currently in law under Wisconsin
Statutes Chapter 36.09 (4) (4m) and (5). As formed, administrators currently hold 10 out of 22
positions on the task force.
WHEREAS the process by which members of this task force were chosen was not transparent
and gives the appearance of emphasizing the perspective of UW System administration and
campus administrators.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Faculty Senate believes that the Board of Regents task
force, by the process of its formation and by composition of its members, undermines the very
shared governance that it supposedly seeks to protect. We have concerns that any conclusions
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and/or reports of such a task force will likely not reflect the interests and views of those
empowered through shared governance. To better reflect shared governance, the task force
members should comprise elected representatives or their appointees from shared governance
bodies throughout the system.
4/6/2015 Eric Compas
7. Announcements and Information (no action unless noted otherwise)
1. Report of the Chancellor:
The Joint Finance Committee starts voting on the Governor’s budget next week, but will wait on state
financial reports before dealing with the big ticket items like the UW System. The entire budget situation
is very fluid.
The proposed tenure and shared governance changes are still in the budget and are expected to stay there.
The Board of Regents will have to incorporate tenure and shared governance rules in their rules. The BOR
president would like stronger post-tenure review requirements.
The approved tuition increase will mean $500 more per year for our out-of-state undergraduates (but still is
lower than in-state Illinois fees) and about $153 for graduate students. This will raise about $800,000.
The eastern campuses in the state are looking for commonalities where they could save on back office
costs, VOIP services as an example.
President Cross will be on campus on April 30 and they are trying to set up an open forum with faculty.
2. Report of Provost:
The planned regional developmental education conferences have been cancelled. There will be a series of
webinars this fall instead.
The numbers are up in all admissions categories, with the demographics (i.e. GPA) looking very strong.
The BOR has approved the required Title IX changes to Chapters 4 and 7; Governor’s office must still
review.
3. Report of the Senate Chair:
Chair Munro noted that the Governor’s budget errata message tied a tuition cap to the Consumer Price
Index and that if that concept were approved the University would never recover financially.
4. Other announcements and information from Senators
8. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 5:01 PM on a Gulig/Gapinski motion.