Author: Michelle Felber

Spring Primary Tuesday, February 21

by Michelle Felber • February 20, 2017 • Comments Off

The Wisconsin spring primary election is tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16. Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm statewide. Photo identification is required to vote.

A primary election for the Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction is the only statewide race on the ballot. Superintendent Tony Evers faces challengers Lowell Holtz of Beloit and John Humphries of Mt. Horeb. The top two vote-getters will face off on Tuesday, April 4.

More information on polling locations and voter registration is available here.

Governor Walker’s Higher Education Budget Plan

by Michelle Felber • February 7, 2017 • Comments Off

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February Board of Regents Meeting

by Michelle Felber • February 2, 2017 • Comments Off

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is meeting at UW-Madison today and tomorrow, February 2 and 3. All meetings will be held in Union South, 1308 West Dayton Street. Livestream coverage of full board meetings is here.

Regents meet in committee Thursday morning.

The Education Committee will consider UW-Superior’s post-tenure review policy, discuss a new UW-Madison bachelor of science degree in education studies, and hear a presentation on UW-Madison educational updates.

The Business and Finance Committee will review a proposed Regent policy document on application fees, hear reports on financial management and gifts, grants and contracts, and consider approval of a UW-Madison School of Business Dean’s salary range that exceeds 75% of the UW System President.

The Capital Planning and Budget Committee will consider approval of two UW-Madison projects, discuss criteria for ranking campus building projects, and hear and update on UW-Madison’s Campus Master Plan.

The Research, Economic Development, and Innovation Committee will hear a presentation led by Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Marsha Mailick on strengthening UW-Madison’s research capacity. The committee will also hear presentations on dairy science at UW-River Falls and community and research collaboration.

The Audit Committee will discuss several reports, including the audit plan progress report and reports related to cash handling, purchase cards NCAA compliance, international education, and emergency preparedness.

The full board will meet Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. On Thursday, Chancellor Rebecca Blank will discuss the need for reinvestment in UW-Madison and UW System Vice President James Henderson will highlight the alignment between UW System’s academic programs and the state’s workforce needs.

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On Friday, UW-Madison will present its Annual NCAA Division I Athletics report and UW System President Ray Cross will provide an update on the state budget process. The Regents will also present the 2017 Diversity Awards.

Legislative Fiscal Bureau Informational Papers on UW System

by Michelle Felber • January 26, 2017 • Comments Off

The following Legislative Fiscal Bureau papers were released Wednesday, January 25.

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December Board of Regents Meeting

by Michelle Felber • December 8, 2016 • Comments Off

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet at the Gordon Dining and Event Center at UW-Madison today, Thursday, December 8. Livestream coverage of the full board portion of the meeting is here.

Regents meet in committee Thursday morning.

The Education Committee will consider revisions to the post-tenure review policy introduced earlier this year. The amended policy would require “an independent, substantive review by a dean, the provost or the chancellor, or a designee, with the appropriate administrator making the final assignment of the category reflecting the overall results of the review.” The committee will also consider approval of the post-tenure review policies of six UW System campuses. UW-Madison’s policy was approved by the Faculty Senate in November, but must now be revised to meet the new guideline. The committee will also discuss adoption of an interim post-tenure review policy to be used by campuses that do not have board-approved policies in place by April 7, 2017. The proposed policies are below:

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The Business and Finance Committee will hear the annual report on faculty turnover, which increased across UW System from an average of 5.9% to 8% in the last fiscal year. UW-Madison had the lowest turnover rate (5.3%), while five campuses experienced faculty turnover rates greater than 11%. The committee will also vote on the adoption of a statement in support of a pay plan request.

The Capital Planning and Budget Committee will discuss several building projects, including UW-Madison’s Chemistry Building project and the renovation of Witte Hall.

The Research, Economic Development and Innovation Committee will hear reports on UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and the WiSys Technology Foundation.

The Audit Committee will discuss the Fiscal 2017 Audit Plan Progress Report and hear an update on the UW System Waste, Fraud and Abuse Hotline.

The full board meets at 12:30 pm. Items on the agenda include UW-Green Bay’s annual Athletics Report and discussion of report of the UW System Task Force on Sexual Violence and Harassment.

Students Plan Day of Action in Opposition to Campus Carry

by Michelle Felber • December 7, 2016 • Comments Off

UW-Madison student leaders have planned a day of action on Thursday, December 15 to oppose allowing concealed carry weapons on campus. While a bill allowing campus carry died in committee last session, State Representative Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) said at a campus forum last month that he intents to reintroduce the bill in 2017.

The group is also collecting signatures of students, faculty, staff and parents opposed to campus carry.

PROFS registered in opposition to campus carry last session and offered this statement on the legislation:

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PROFS to Present Annual Report to the Faculty Senate

by Michelle Felber • December 1, 2016 • Comments Off

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PROFS president Judith Burstyn will present the PROFS Annual Report for 2015-16 to the Faculty Senate Monday, December 5. The senate meets in Room 272 Bascom Hall at 3:30 pm. A full agenda of the meeting is here.

Faculty senators and visitors are invited to join PROFS for refreshments in the rotunda area outside Room 272 Bascom Hall beginning at 3 pm.

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UW-Madison Drops in Research Expenditure Rankings

by Michelle Felber • November 22, 2016 • Comments Off

nsf1 For the first time since 1972, UW-Madison does not rank in the top five in research expenditures as ranked by the National Science Foundation. UW-Madison dropped from fourth to sixth this year, with $1.07 billion in research spending in 2015.

Johns Hopkins University continues to lead in research funding ($2.31 billion), followed by the University of Michigan ($1.37 billion), the University of Washington ($1.18 billion), the University of California-San Francisco ($1.13 billion), and the University of California-San Diego ($1.1 billion). Among the top 30 universities, Wisconsin led among the four that experienced a drop in spending, with a 3.6 percent reduction.

UW-Madison Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Marsha Mailick noted the impact of disinvestment by the state:

“We are extremely proud of our faculty, staff and students but if Wisconsin is to remain at the pinnacle of American research universities, the state will need to reinvest to be sure we have the faculty positions and conditions necessary to attract and retain the best researchers.”

UW-Madison Budget in Brief

by Michelle Felber • November 8, 2016 • Comments Off

UW-Madison recently released the 2016-17 Budget in Brief, a publication designed to help people, including legislators and other government officials, better understand the university’s budget.

As we get closer to the 2017-19 state budget process, PROFS encourages faculty and others to take a look and become more familiar with UW-Madison budget details.

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