Author: Michelle Felber

Additional COVID-19 Resources

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UW-Madison and UW System each have COVID-19 websites with resources for faculty, staff and students:

UW-Madison announced today that face-to-face instruction is suspended for the remainder of the semester. Students who are unable to return home will be allowed to remain in residence halls with limited dining. Information about spring commencement will be announced soon.

A new employee leave policy was also announced today. UW-Madison is providing an 80 hour leave bank in additional to current leave policy. Beginning Wednesday, March 18, on-campus work is required only for those delivering essential services that cannot be done via telecommuting. Workers who cannot telecommute and who are not involved in essential services may use leave.

UW-Madison’s COVID-19 website includes a section on instructional continuity to help faculty and staff develop remote teaching. Webinars are offered daily.

Students who return home may find they have limited access to broadband or reliable internet services. Several providers are offering free or reduced cost service to students, including Charter, TDS and Comcast. A link with Wisconsin providers and service areas is here.

Some students remaining on campus may face financial challenges. Please encourage students to utilize the resources found on the COVID-19 FAQ page (scroll down to Financial Matters). UW-Madison has also created a special emergency support fund to help students with travel, food and housing costs. Contributions to that fund can be made here.

COVID-19 Updates from UW-Madison

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The University of Wisconsin-Madison has created a website with information relating to the university’s response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

In-person instruction will be suspended this Friday prior to spring beak, and distance learning will begin March 23. Students who live in residence halls are asked to remain off campus after break if possible.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank held a news conference yesterday with additional information about changes to campus operations due to the virus. A portion of her remarks are below. The full press conference is here.

March Legislative Update

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This legislative update was distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Senate meeting today. The senate meets the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm during the academic year, October through May, except in January. This semester, the senate will meet in Room B10 Ingraham Hall.

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PROFS Testimony in Favor of Senate Bill 563

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This afternoon, PROFS board member and Soil Science Professor Steve Ventura delivered testimony to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and Financial Institutions in favor of Senate Bill 563, legislation that would provide $1 million per year during the current biennium for extension services in applied agricultural research. PROFS is registered in favor of this bill.

His testimony is below:

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February Board of Regents Meeting

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet at UW-Madison Thursday and Friday, February 6 and 7. All meetings will be held at Union South, 1308 West Dayton Street as UW-Madison is the official host of the meeting. Livestream coverage of the full board portions of the meeting is available here. UW-Madison will welcome board members for a reception and facility visit at the George L. Mosse Humanities Building Wednesday evening.

Regents meeting in committee Thursday morning.

  • The Business and Finance Committee will hear several reports, including one from UW-Madison Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Laurent Heller. The committee will also discuss non-resident tuition increases at six campuses, several agreements and contracts, and changes to two Regent Policy Documents, including one that relates to Wisconsin Act 36 (Mark Cook Bill).
  • The Education Committee will hear several updates, including one from UW-Madison Provost Karl Scholz, and consider new degree programs at UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater.
  • The Audit Committee will hear several reports on topics including audit, internal controls, enterprise risk management, and compliance.
  • The Capital Planning and Budget Committee will discuss several UW-Madison building projects, including the proposed renovation and addition to Sellery Hall.
  • The Research, Economic Development and Innovation Committee will hear a report from UW-Madison Women in Science and Engineering and an update from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The full board meets at 1 pm Thursday. UW-Madison Chancellor Blank will address the board, discussing how the university is facing the rapidly changing world of higher education. Regents will move into closed session after a panel discussion on the state’s achievement/opportunity gap.

The Regents meet at 9 am Friday. They will hear reports from UW System President Ray Cross and Regent President Andrew Petersen and consider approval of committee action from Thursday. The UW-Madison Athletics Department will present its annual NCAA Division I report and the Board of Regents will present the 2020 Diversity Awards, including one to the UW-Madison Department of Chemistry.

PROFS Annual Report

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PROFS President Dorothy Farrar Edwards presented the PROFS Annual Report for 2018-19 at the Faculty Senate yesterday (below). The report outlines the governance structure of PROFS and describes the legislative and outreach efforts undertaken last year.

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February Legislative Update

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This legislative update was distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Senate meeting today. The senate meets the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm during the academic year, October through May, except in January. This semester, the senate will meet in Room B10 Ingraham Hall.

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Useful links:

PROFS Statement on Campus Speech Legislation

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The Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families held a hearing on an appointment and several bills yesterday, including Senate Bill 403, legislation relating to campus speech. PROFS is registered against this bill and strongly opposes its passage.

The following statement was shared with the committee yesterday.

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UW System President Search Update

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents Presidential Search Committee met via conference call Friday, January 17 to discuss the UW System President job description and search timeline. Regent leaders previously indicated they would like to name a successor to UW System President Ray Cross sometime in May.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the committee agreed on language that does not require candidates to hold a doctoral or terminal degree, but instead have at least ten years experience in a “significant senior executive position” and an understanding of public higher education.

The committee also shared comments gathered online and during video listening sessions last month (below).

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UW System Presidential Search Update

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents recently announced a public comment website for faculty, staff, students and others to offer input on the UW System President search.

In correspondence with UW System employees, Regent Vice President Michael Grebe also announced two video listening sessions at 11 am and 3 pm on Thursday, December 19. Those interested can register here.

Grebe writes:

To frame and guide these engagements, I am including a set of questions that I ask you think about:

What are the key challenges and opportunities facing the UW System over the next five to ten years? What particular characteristics and attributes would help the successful candidate address these issues?

What specific role and specific priorities should we expect the new President to carry forward with respect to that future agenda?

What are the characteristics, skills, and experiences we should be seeking in the search for the new President? Which characteristics are required and which would be nice to have? Which are the most important or essential?

What are the top three to five attributes of the UW System that should be exciting to candidates? More generally, why should candidates be excited about coming to UW System?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights. Thank you in advance for participating and helping the Committee drive towards a successful result.

PROFS has previously expressed serious concern about the composition of the search committee and finds a comment website and online listening session to be poor substitutes for appropriate faculty, staff and student participation. These are not examples of shared governance. We again ask the Board of Regents to do better.