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.
Category: PROFS
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.
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:
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.
February 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.
Useful links:
- AB 444/SB 403, Campus Speech Bills
- PROFS statement on campus speech legislation
- AB 627/SB 563, Extension Funding
- AB 556/SB 497, Extension Hours
- PROFS letter to UW System Board of Regents
PROFS Statement on Campus Speech Legislation
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.
UW System Presidential Search Update

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.
Regent Response to PROFS Letter on President Search Committee
Faculty Senate Resolution on UW System President Search Committee
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Senate voted unanimously yesterday to pass a resolution (below) objecting to the composition of the Search and Screen Committee for the new UW System President. The resolution also called for the Board of Regents to add faculty, staff and students to the committee. Similar resolutions have passed at every comprehensive and doctoral campus within UW System.
Regent President Andrew Petersen named members of the search committee in early November, drawing criticism from governance groups and legislators. The letter PROFS sent to Petersen urging him to include governance groups on the committee is here.
December 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 in Room 272 Bascom Hall during the academic year, October through May, except in January.