These are proposed resolutions, to be taken up in this week’s Faculty Senate scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2015.

Communication from an Official Governance Unit
UW-Milwaukee Faculty Senate Resolution
Downer Woods and Downer College Buildings
March 12, 2015

Whereas Downer Woods and the Downer College buildings are treasured by both UW-Milwaukee and surrounding communities as unique cultural and historical legacies; and

Whereas Downer Woods provides invaluable opportunities for recreation and scientific study, as well as adding to the natural beauty of the UW-Milwaukee campus;

Therefore, the UW-Milwaukee Faculty Senate unequivocally opposes the repeal of sections from Chapter 36 State Statutes which protect Downer Woods and the Downer College buildings as precious assets, as well as any other attempts to endanger them or change their status.

We further call upon UW-Milwaukee Administration, UW-System Administration, the UW-System Board of Regents, the City of Milwaukee, and the Village of Shorewood, to join with us in urging the State Legislature to reject this proposed change in State Statutes, and affirm support for maintaining the current protected status of Downer Woods and the Downer College buildings.

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Communication from an Official Governance Unit
UW-Milwaukee Faculty Senate Resolution
Public Education and Public Authority
March 12, 2015

Whereas the Board of Regents has declared that budget cuts in base funding limit the ability of the UW-System to effectively manage our institutions; and

Whereas we understand that the proposed budget cuts will irrevocably damage the teaching, research, and service mission of UW-Milwaukee; and

Whereas our core values require that the Wisconsin Idea must remain fully intact, including shared governance, tenure, and investment in public education, as these facets have allowed the UW-System to become one of the best in the world and immeasurably enhance the lives of the people of Wisconsin;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the UW-Milwaukee Faculty Senate urges the Wisconsin State Legislature to maintain Chapter 36 intact, to reject the conversion to public authority and the proposed budget cuts, and only pursue any desired flexibilities for the UW-System via amendments to State Statutes, after an open, deliberate, and inclusive process that honors shared governance and public input.

Further, in order to gain the confidence of the UW-Milwaukee faculty, we call on the Board of Regents, UW-System President Cross, and our own UW-Milwaukee Administration to join us in publicly supporting this resolution.