March 30, 2020

UC Chair Kathleen Dolan reported she attended the meeting of the Deans last week Friday. A virtual campus town hall meeting may be planned, where faculty, staff, and administration can connect. UW System and the Chancellors are working with the WI Legislature on a relief package for campuses. A stipend has been arranged for student workers on campus. Chancellor Mark Mone announced that VSIP has been canceled, and no merit raises are being awarded right now. Campus is now closed to all but the most essential employees. Commencement for Spring 2020 graduate may be held in the fall to replace the May ceremony canceled due to COVID-19.

K. Dolan also attended the Crisis Management Team meeting. Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administrative Affairs Robin Van Harpen reported that UW System is working with the Chancellors to develop a policy to provide additional leave hours for staff, when their 80 hours of granted leave runs out. Dean of Students Adam Jussel reported that the campus food pantry is still open. Requests for food can be sent by email, and there is curbside delivery for people who need assistance. A virtual student union is still being developed, and should be ready to launch by the end of the week.

UC Member Tina Freiburger reported that last week, APBC reviewed a new degree proposal for a PHD in mechanical engineering.

UC Member Julia Snethen reported that the Rules committee meets later this week.

UC Member Laura Otto-Salaj reported that the AAFEC committee meets later this week.

UC Member Mark Schwartz reported he received clarification that the January 2021 pay raises are still in place.

Special Assistant to the Provost Dave Clark joined the meeting, to discuss placement testing. Placement tests have been canceled due to COVID-19; D. Clark reported that campus had to come up with alternative methods from using those placement tests, in order to place students for Fall 2020. He has been working with the Math department to allow for the use of ACT and SAT scores. If students believe their placements are unjust, they can take the standing placement test in the fall. UC Member John Reisel says that in engineering the ACT score matches well with system placement test scores. It was moved and seconded to support this interim policy as written; the motion was passed unanimously.

New business:
UC discussed a proposed credit/no credit policy for Spring 2020 graduate courses. The policy will again require departments to designate courses as eligible or ineligible for this policy, and mirrors the wording of the policy for undergraduate courses passed last week. It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed policy as written. The motion was passed unanimously.

UC discussed a proposed policy providing extensions to deadlines for graduation from graduate programs. It was moved and seconded to support this interim policy as written; the motion was passed unanimously.

UC discussed a proposed policy to provide tenure clock extensions to faculty who request them, due to COVID-19. These extensions may last up to one year. It was moved and seconded to support this interim policy as written; the motion was passed unanimously.

Chancellor Mone’s message to students sent yesterday erroneously referred to a Pass/Fail policy for undergraduate courses, rather than the Credit/No Credit policy that was passed. K. Dolan was told that this will be corrected in a future email.

A clarification regarding student illness was discussed. Supervisory and instructional faculty and staff are not allowed to request doctor’s notes from students during this time.

The SecU office is working on methods to hold the next Faculty Senate meeting virtually.

Provost Johannes Britz will attend the next meeting.