Academic Planning & Budget Committee – Annual Report – 2025-2026

Members:

Name	Rank	Department	Div	E/A	Term Ends	Email
Tracy Boyer	FAC	Freshwater Sciences	SS	A	2028	taboyer@uwm.edu
Robin Jens	AS	Nursing	—	E	2028	rjens@uwm.edu
Jennifer Kibicho	FAC	Nursing	PR	E	2028	kibicho@uwm.edu
Danielle Romain Dagenhardt	FAC	Criminal Justice & Criminology	PR	A	2028	dmromain@uwm.edu
Miren Boehm	FAC	Philosophy	AH	A	2027	boehmm@uwm.edu
Derek Counts, Co-Chair	FAC	Art History	AH	E	2027	dbc@uwm.edu
Jarett Wilcoxen, Co-Chair	FAC	Chemistry & Biochemistry	NS	E	2027	jarettw@uwm.edu
Kristin Woodward 1	AS	UWM Libraries	—	E	2027	kristinw@uwm.edu
Peter Hinow	FAC	Mathematical Science	NS	A	2026	hinow@uwm.edu
John Roberts	FAC	Sociology	SS	E	2026	jmrob@uwm.edu
Tanya Joosten 2	AS	Academic Affairs (ASC Rep)	—	o	2026	tjoosten@uwm.edu
Tiffany Nation 3	US	Graduate School (USC Rep)	—	o	2026	tmnation@uwm.edu
Michael Newman	FAC	English (APCC Rep)	—	o	2026	mznewman@uwm.edu
Hamid Ouali	FAC	Linguistics (GFC Rep)	—	o	2026	ouali@uwm.edu
Gillian Rodger	FAC	Music (UC Rep)	AH	o	2026	grodger@uwm.edu
Tina Freiburger	Dean	College of Community Engagement & Professions	x-o	o	2026	freiburg@uwm.edu
Paul Klajbor	Admin Officer	Academic Affairs (Provost Rep)	x-o	o	2026	klajbor@uwm.edu

Charter:

A1.0 Academic Planning and Budget Committee

1. Membership. Nineteen members as follows: six Faculty appointed by the University Committee, one from each of the five Divisions including at least one of whom shall be a senator, and one member of the University Committee; one Faculty elected by each of the five Divisions; the Chair of the Academic Program & Curriculum Committee; the Chair of the Graduate Faculty Committee; three members of the Academic Staff, two elected by the Academic Staff and one member of the Academic Staff Committee; one University Staff member appointed annually by the University Staff Committee; and ex-officio, an academic Dean and the Provost or designee.
2. Functions. Makes recommendations to the Faculty and to UWM Administration regarding (1) short range and long range academic plans for the University that are consistent with the mission, and (2) budget implications for these plans.
   1. Reviews long range plans regarding academic interests that are consistent with the mission of the colleges and the University;
   2. Consults with administration of the University and of the colleges over the budget model allocations;
   3. Advises Faculty on issues related to budget and its impact on academic program quality, student retention, and development;
   4. Reports to the Faculty Senate regarding both short and long range academic plans for the University that are consistent with the University mission and budgetary implications of those plans;
   5. Recommends and evaluates planning for new programs that are not the province of a single academic unit;
   6. Represents the interests of the Faculty to the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor and Provost regarding both short range and long range plans for the academic units and the budget implications of these plans;
   7. Examines those actions taken by the Board of Regents, UWM Administration, or individual units on campus that impact the overall short range or long range plans for other academic programs on campus and the budget for the academic units;
   8. Makes recommendations for Faculty action;
   9. Reviews University policies that impact the academic programs of the academic units and long range plans for these units.

Meetings:

The committee typically met biweekly throughout the 2025-26 academic year. The Provost frequently provided updates on issues and policies impacting UWM’s budget. In the fall semester, the committee’s primary focus centered on the annual budget discussions starting with a presentation by Financial Affairs on the revenue and expenditure assumptions for the fiscal year 2027. Two committee members attended each of the 19 budget meetings between Financial Affairs and individual Schools, Colleges, and non-academic units on campus. In addition, the co-chairs attended meetings with the Budget Advisory Team throughout the semester, concluding with a meeting summarizing the budget recommendations that Financial Affairs would present to the Chancellor. Additionally, in the Fall semester APBC provided comments on a proposal from Academic Affairs to reorganize the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, UWM Online, and the School of Continuing Education to establish a centralized, one-stop hub for teaching and learning support, under the new Center for Advancing Student Learning (CASL).

In the Spring semester committee meetings covered topics on understanding the impacts of the increased contribution rate that was approved by the Chancellor at the recommendation of Financial Affairs following the Fall budget meetings, educating units on the budget process, understanding the impacts of the campus grade forgiveness program on retention, and implementation of the Act 15 requirements on teaching and general education courses. During the latter half of the spring semester APBC members were part discussions considering the benefits and challenges of a potential college realignment involving the College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of Freshwater Science. Additional conversations focused on how to best support research on campus and the impacts of the newly implemented Activity Based Budget model on schools and colleges, especially the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Freshwater Science.

The academic year concluded with Co-Chairs Counts and Wilcoxen meeting with the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administrative Affairs Robin Van Harpen and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Services Drew Knab to get a debrief on the previous budget cycle, in addition to an update on the fiscal year 2027 budget and preparations for the fiscal year 2028 budget cycle.  Additionally, research support on campus, including a summer working group on this topic, was discussed.

Across the past year, a general theme for the year emerged. As UWM continues to navigate its financial stability, from uncertain enrollment to decreasing research grant support to challenges with state appropriations, we encourage all faculty to stay informed and engage where possible in discussions surrounding UWM’s budget, campus funding priorities, policy decisions, and strategic initiatives. These considerations will be at the forefront of the committees’ work moving into the Fall 2026 semester.

Finally, we would like to thank the committee members for their service to APBC and extend special appreciation to Louisa Eastman for her collegial spirit and indefatigable support of the committee’s work.

Respectfully Submitted,

Profs. Derek B. Counts and Jarett Wilcoxen

Co-Chairs