December 9, 2025 – University Committee

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Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Lubar N456 and Microsoft Teams

Attendance

Present: Professors M. Kavanaugh, K. Kirshtner, R. Leson, L. McHenry, W. Otieno, G. Rodger, M. Schwartz
Excused:  None
Guests: T. Gibson

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by M. Kavanaugh at 1:01 p.m.

Persons Who Wish to be Heard

None

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the December 2, 2025 meeting were approved.

Special Guest

               Chancellor Thomas Gibson

  1. The Board of Regents approved a GER policy in response to Act 15.  The policy is now with JCER, with a vote likely in the next two weeks.
  2. The UWM Panther Arena has been designated a historic site by the Milwaukee Common Council.  The mayor still needs to approve this designation.  Such a designation would increase the amount of discussions and approvals that would be needed before changes are made to the structure.
  3. Chancellor Gibson updated the Board of Regents on the UWM response to the Deloitte report.  Highlights included the following items.  FY 2025 ended with an operational surplus, largely related to one-time activities.  UWM is undertaking multi-year budgeting.  The Composite Financial Index (CFI) has improved, with a goal of a CFI of 3.5 by 2030.  Enrollments increased, with goals of continued enrollment increases and increased graduation rates.  Plans for increased fundraising were also summarized. 
  4. There was a discussion about the need for additional resources in the Office of Research.
  5. Transfer student enrollments have increased to their highest level in 10 years.  Some of this is due to articulation agreements and the establishment of University Centers at the local technical colleges.
  6. UWM has partnered with a third party vendor to help re-enroll students who stopped attending for at least 2.5 years.  This began last year, and has resulted in 157 students re-enrolling.

Chairperson’s Report and Announcements

  1. M. Kavanaugh reported that the UW System reps met last week. 
  2. The consensus on the proposed legislation to broaden the definition of faculty is that the legislation is not likely to move forward at this time, but the idea may return in the future.

Members’ Reports

  1. L. McHenry reported on the realignment workgroup’s meeting with CEAS.   

New Business

None

Old Business

None

Personnel Matters

Per Wis. Stats 19.85(1)(f), it was moved and seconded to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters. Upon voice vote, closed session began at 2:05 p.m. The committee reconvened in open session at 2:47 p.m.

Future Agenda Items

The next scheduled UC meeting is December 16 at 1:00 pm.  Consideration of changes to P&P Chapter 1 is expected.  Following that, the UC does not plan to meet until January 27 unless urgent business arises.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 2:48 p.m.