Chancellor Mone provided the following updates:

1. The latest enrollment numbers show a 3.3% drop from last year, however that revenue loss has been partially offset by an increase in student residence hall numbers (which are close to current capacity);
2. The searches for Provost and VC for Marketing and Communications have been launched with the help of search firms;
3. He was encouraged by the large group of new faculty at the orientation this year (several dozen) in stark contrast to previous years.

The UC continues to discuss potential revisions to the SSEA administrator evaluation process as well as looking for additional faculty to serve on the new DDHC.

UC Chair Schwartz updated the committee on the most recent plans for the previously announced UW-System-wide “Free Speech” student survey, which will likely take place soon after the November election. The survey will randomly sample same-sized groups from each UW campus, which raises concerns about UW-Milwaukee students being under-represented.

Provost Gronert provided the following update: This year’s student enrollment has both positive and negative aspects. While UWM increased its first-year class size notably, it has also seen a reduction in retention of the previous year’s class. The overall result has been a reduction in enrollment of about 2% compared to last year. Gronert also stressed the need to work hard at improving student retention numbers (especially from the first to second year) going forward.

The UC addressed several matters: 1) Pertinent to a question from a committee member, it was clarified that preferential ballots for department chair need not be physical–they only need to be archived/preserved as records in whatever form they take; 2) Faculty nominations for the SFS and ZCPH Dean searches were completed (Schwartz will forward these to the Provost); and 3) Faculty nominees for the new Dismissal/Discipline Hearing Committee (DDHC) were selected.

UC Chair Schwartz announced that the Provost has asked the committee to nominate faculty as potential members and chairs for the Zilber College of Public Health and School of Freshwater Sciences Dean Search committees. The UC is also tasked with naming initial members for the new Dismissal and Disciplinary Hearing Committee (DDHC) which adjudicates appeals of discipline imposed on faculty.

The UC discussed several potential draft policy revisions: 1) Changes to P&P that would facilitate and clarify the process for associate professors seeking promotion to full; and 2) Modifications to the operation of the SSEA. Discussion on these matters will continue.

The UC welcomed new members John Boyland and Lisa Hager.  The committee will only have five members until elections are held this semester to fill two vacant positions.

Appointments of UC representatives to other campus committees for the coming year were completed, and the committee heard an overview of an initial plan to reorganize the SSEA.  This proposal will be discussed and revised by the UC during the upcoming semester, in preparation for consideration by the Faculty Senate.

The UC approved an updated “Interim COVID-Related Health and Safety Policy” submitted by UWM administration.  A permanent policy will be brought to the Faculty Senate in the upcoming Fall semester.  The committee also submitted a slate of faculty nominees to serve on the Provost Search & Screen Committee, in response to an urgent request from Chancellor Mone.

UC Chair N. Rothfels reported that he has accepted the position of acting L&S Dean, and thus will be resigning from the UC, effective June 13^th.  The UC elected member Mark D. Schwartz to assume chairing the committee, effective next week, and for the 2022-2023 academic year.

UC Chair N. Rothfels reported:  1) He received a letter with concerns about CGS from a faculty member; 2) The Chancellor’s Extended Cabinet meeting addressed UW-System-wide IT security and other policy related issues; 3) SSEA will not need to do any administrator reviews in 2022-2023, so will look to discuss procedural reorganizations starting in the Fall; 4)  Small campus grants in support of faculty research will be continued next year; and 5) The next Board of Regents meeting will be on our campus June 9-10.

The UC met in closed session with EDS Director J. Cimpl-Wiemer to discuss DEI challenges related to recent campus faculty/staff demographics, retention, and future recruitment.

Finally, UC member D. Misra reported that the APBC met last week, and the PEC has been discussing changes to the traffic patterns on campus.

UC Chair N. Rothfels reported:  1) L&S Dean S. Gronert has been appointed as interim Provost; 2) He attended the Governance Reps meeting in Madison last Friday.  Major issues discussed included the need for a more robust conversation with UW-System on proposed policy changes, and what the actual timing will be on the distribution of the “free speech” survey to students in the Fall 2022 semester; and 3) UW-Madison’s PROFS organization, as well as several Faculty Reps from other campuses have already met with the incoming UW-System President.  Rothfels and Reisel will start working on extending and invitation for President J. Rothman to meet with our campus governance groups in Fall 2022.

The UC met with Chancellor M. Mone and new VC for Development and Alumni Relations J. Nesbitt, who provided the following updates: 1)  UC members introduced themselves to the new VC, and she provided an overview of on-going plans for actions and staff reorganizations—mostly compatible with things already being implemented by staff in response to feedback after the last capital campaign; 2) The search for the “permanent” Provost, as well as the reboot of the VC for Marketing, Communications, and University Relations search will both start in late summer or early fall; and 3) The Chancellor is gearing up for the June Regents meeting in order to provide a strong push forward for the UWM funding initiative.

Finally, the UC unanimously elected N. Rothfels to continue as chair in 2022-2023, and member M. D. Schwartz also agreed to serve as Faculty Rep and UC Liaison.

UC Chair N. Rothfels reported:  1) Interim Provost interviews are underway and will wrap up tomorrow—the selection is expected by the end of the week; 2) Chancellor M. Mone indicated that the NWQ Building A demolition remains a “tug of war” legal issue between the State and City; 3) Provost Britz discussed his preparations to ensure leadership continuity on campus; 4) Rothfels attended the memorial service for the two UWM students who passed away; 5)  At the ASC meeting yesterday he heard about their continued efforts to help staff navigate the “Teaching Faculty” title transition; and 6)  Following up on the DP appointment discussion from last week, Nigel clarified that there is no set compensation increase systematically associated with the conferral of the honorific.

The UC met with Provost J. Britz, who provided the following updates: 1) He is working quickly on his transition to the new position at UW-System; 2) UW-System appears to be poised to implement significant changes in operation—shifting toward a role involving more support of campuses; and 3) SARUP will now remain together as a school in the new College of the Arts and Architecture.

Sec of U J. Reisel reported that:  1) Changes to FRRC procedures will be coming to the Faculty Senate meeting next week for consideration; and 2) He is working on organizing Faculty Documents so that those still relevant to current P&P matters can be easily found.

Finally, member E. Bornstein reported that the AAFEC met last Friday with Assoc. VC C. Vang and new AVC & Chief Human Resources Office M. Fessahaye regarding implementation of DEI search & screen processes in connection with campus faculty/staff recruitments.  Member M. D. Schwartz also informed the UC that changes are apparently underway in campus dorm meal plans that may impact Union food services starting in Fall 2022.  Details on this issue, as well as a response to concerns raised by Schwartz are expected to be provided by Student Services soon.

UC Chair N. Rothfels reported:  1) He thought the CARE group presentation at Senate last week went very well; 2) The deadline for applications for the interim Provost position is tomorrow, so there will be a very fast turnaround time for this appointment (Nigel is a co-chair of the committee that will make recommendations to the Chancellor); 3) FAA VC R. Van Harpen has declined a request from AAUP to do salary review for faculty in the CGS.  She hopes to do a comprehensive salary review in the future and will do so in consultation with the governance groups; and 4) Nigel will continue discussions regarding campus thesis/dissertation submission requirements over the summer.  Apparently, many campuses that allow students to opt out of submitting their work to for-profit entities (i.e., Proquest), still do require them to digitally deposit it with the local library.

The UC met with current ASC Chair N. Oswald and incoming ASC Chair M. Priem, who provided the following updates: 1)  This will be Nicole’s last meeting with the UC as she will be on leave from now through the summer—Mike will serve as acting Chair and meet with the UC over the summer; 2)  The TTC process continues to generate discussion, and they are still working on the appeals process and related logistics; 3) ASC will be participating in an academic staff workload study group, which is expected to parallel the process currently underway for faculty; and 4)  Nicole met with the Chancellor to express ASC views/expectations for the new Provost.

The committee addressed several matters of new business:  1) Concerns about notifications when a student death occurs, as well as how related campus messaging is handled were discussed; and 2) Clarification was provided in response to a question from a department Executive Committee about Distinguished Professors.  Distinguished Professor is not a rank, but an honorific, so any actions related to it are not personnel actions.

Finally, member J. Snethen reported that the PAC passed a combined incomplete policy, enacted non-gender specific language changes to the Emeritus/a policy, and codified a concurrent degree policy.  These will come to the Senate at the May meeting as automatic consent items.