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May Legislative Update
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Category: UW
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Regent Executive Committee to Meet to Discuss Creation of Employee Furlough Policies
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents Executive Committee will meet at 2:30 pm today to discuss granting UW System President Ray Cross and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Black the authority to create policies and procedures relating to employee furloughs in response to the immense budget pressures due to COVID-19:
“The University of Wisconsin System is facing increased fiscal challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents, under the authority granted to the Board in Wis. Stats. s. 36.115, is being asked to modify Regent Policy Document 20-21 to authorize the UW System President and the UW-Madison Chancellor to create furlough policies. The furlough policies will provide options in addition to the other workforce reduction and cost saving measures, to address these financial challenges in a way that minimizes layoffs and maximizes the UW System’s ability to continue to perform its critical educational and outreach mission.”
The meeting will be webcast live here.
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PROFS Lobbying on UW Extension Legislation
PROFS continues to lobby on two bills that relate to UW Extension. While the regular session of the legislature ended today, a special session could be called later this spring.
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Additional COVID-19 Resources
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
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
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
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
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
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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