September 22, 2026 – University Committee-Minutes

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Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Lubar N456

Attendance

Present: Professors V. Brown, P. Chang, N. Fleisher, M. Kavanaugh, L. McHenry, W. Otieno, G. Rodger
Excused:  None
Guests:  A. Abedi, M. Fessahaye, N. Oswald, R. Van Harpen

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by W. Otieno at 1:02 p.m.

II. Persons Who Wish to be Heard

None

III. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the September 8, 2026 meeting were approved.

IV. Special Guests

Academic Staff Committee Chair Nicole Oswald

  1. ASC Chair Oswald discussed the ASC’s view of the Comprehensive Compensation Review Guidelines.
  2. The ASC is working on the Academic Staff workload policy, and have received feedback from Academic Affairs and Legal Affairs.
  3. There is concern among the ASC about the timing of issuing of contracts for Academic Staff instructors this semester.

Vice Chancellor for Research Ali Abedi

  1. VC Abedi presented data on UWM’s research activities in comparison to peer institutions.  He also discussed the impact of the F&A cost return model on UWM’s research funding success.  To increase external funding, there is a need to enhance collaborative research efforts across campus.  VC Abedi would like to change the F&A distribution to help build collaboration and to create efficiencies in campus research-related resource utilization.
  2. Advantages and disadvantages of using a distributed F&A return model versus a centralized F&A model were discussed.  Concerns over the impacts of a colleges’ loss or reduction of F&A return on their budgets were expressed.
  3. Prof. Chang raised the issue of the distribution of research credit in the ABBM model, as the current practice of attributing all the proposal and grant work to the PI’s unit discourages collaboration.  VC Abedi agreed that the practice needs to be modified.  VC Abedi and VC Van Harpen will discuss the issue of research credit distribution and VC Van Harpen will send remarks to the UC.

Vice Chancellor Robin Van Harpen and Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Makda Fessahaye      

  1. HR is finalizing guidelines for the Comprehensive Compensation Review.  The plan is to review compensation by cohort across campus, on a five-year cycle.  Some central funds have been set aside for supporting compensation increases one-time as identified in this process.  Units would be responsible for continuing the adjustments in future years.
  2. The issue of the timing of the issuing of ad hoc instructor contracts with respect to the start of the semester was discussed.  Many instructors could not get access to Canvas until after the start of the semester.  It was also difficult for units to track where the contract status was in the process.  Issues with Workday also were brought up.  Additional issues with the response time on actions with HR were discussed.  AVC Fessahaye provided a summary of the tasks that HR has to process near the beginning of the Fall semester.  She also highlighted the multiple Workday steps that need to be performed before a contract is issued, and the subsequent need for Workday to interact with PAWS and Canvas before Canvas access is granted. AVC Fessahaye agreed to implement a check-list to be provided to all new ad hoc instructors to mitigate delays that may be caused by the lack of prompt responses from the ad hoc instructors during the hiring process.
  3. AVC Fessahaye will recommend to academic unit chairs to consider giving multi-semester contacts to ad hoc instructors who will be needed to teach for more than a semester.

V. Chairperson’s Report and Announcements

1.  Chancellor Gibson’s Inauguration will be held on Friday, September 25.  Many prominent guests are planning to attend.  Please attend if you are available.

2.  The Provost Search and Screen Committee had their first meeting and were given their charge by Chancellor Gibson.

3.  The Provost search firm conducted a listening session for faculty on September 16 and a listening session for staff on September 18.  Useful feedback was provided during these sessions.             

VI. Members’ Reports

None

VII. New Business

  1. Faculty Representative for the Student Government Senate Finance Committee

    The UC recommended Assistant Professor Ting Yao as the faculty representative to the committee.

VIII. Old Business

None

IX.  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 1:16 p.m. The committee reconvened in open session at 1:23 p.m.

X. Future Agenda Items

The next scheduled UC meeting is planned for October 6.  Interim Provost Tina Freiburger is expected to attend.

XI. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 2:48 p.m.