UC Chair Kris O’Connor reported that the Provost is launching a search for the new Director of Libraries, which will proceed similarly to a Dean search. The Board of Regents (BOR) approved the MA in African Diaspora Studies and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate at last week’s meeting. Chair O’Connor will be inviting UW System President Ray Cross to a future Faculty Senate meeting; potential topics for discussion with President Cross were generated, including: the impact of UW-Madison’s changing targets for in-state and out-of-state student enrollment on enrollment at the other System campuses; use of outside consultants vs. internal experts; program productivity monitoring; pay gaps between administrators and faculty and staff; GPR funding for UWM; thoughts on a common GenEd curriculum across campuses; and the budget for restructuring the system and the structural deficits for receiving campuses.

The search for a new Director of Libraries will begin shortly. The Provost has requested names of faculty who could serve on the Search Committee; the UC generated a list of names. Mark Schwartz will serve as the UC representative on the committee.

Chancellor Mark Mone attended and reported that, at last week’s BOR meeting, the Regents gave support for the 3% + 3% compensation package. This will next go to the WI Legislature. The BOR also supported the demolition of Building A at NWQ, and agreed to a waiver for the relocation of the Norris Health Center to NWQ. The waiver allows for this to be paid for by segregated fees beginning in 2022. This has been approved by the Student Association. The Provosts also heard the presentation of the Freshwater University proposal.

The Title and Total Compensation group discussed the Employee Benefits Survey. The group is trying to simplify titles for the system. The Chancellor explained that one purpose of the survey was to explore the desirability of benefit options, including some that are not currently provided. Members of the UC raised concerns that the Benefits Survey seems to force choices of benefits, and also that the survey structure may not result in data that accurately reflects how employees feel about benefits options. The UC also discussed finding another Faculty Senator to sit on the Chancellor’s LGTBQ+ Advisory Task Force, as was requested at the last Faculty Senate meeting.

UC member Kathy Dolan reported that Zoom interviews of semi-finalists for the position of the Dean of the College of Health Sciences will take place in early January. The Search Committee is meeting on January 15th to recommend candidates for in-person interviews, which will occur in February.

UC member Mark Schwartz reported that Jason Pushkar will be the new Associate Dean of the Graduate School; the GFC will need to select a new chair.