Month: April 2019

Mark Cook Bill Update

Assembly Bill 38 and Senate Bill 42, bipartisan legislation dubbed the Mark Cook Bills, have begun to move through the legislative process. These companion bills are a top legislative priority for PROFS and honor the late UW-Madison Animal Sciences Professor Mark Cook.

Mark Cook

Three years ago, PROFS created the Entrepreneurial Work Group, which was led by Cook, to create legislation that would expedite and strengthen the process for Board of Regent approval of projects that involve companies or non-profit organizations in which faculty or staff have a financial interest. Last session, the legislation was approved unanimously in committee and by voice vote in the Assembly, but never received a floor vote in the Senate before the end of the session.

The Assembly Constitution and Ethics Committee heard testimony today on AB 38 (below). Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council offered written testimony in favor of the bill, telling the committee that Cook’s “work was sometimes slowed by rules that had either outlived their usefulness, stood at odds with processes at other major universities, or simply cost Wisconsin entrepreneurs time and money. Time and money are two commodities that must be carefully guarded by young companies, often making the difference between success and failure.” A senate hearing on the SB 42 is scheduled for May 7.

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PROFS State Budget Forum Video

PROFS hosted a forum to discuss Governor Tony Ever’s 2019-21 state budget proposal on April 2. The panel included:

PROFS/WISCAPE state budget forum, April 2, 2019

April Board of Regents Meeting

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is meeting in Madison Thursday and Friday, April 4 and 5. The meeting, originally scheduled to be hosted by UW-Whitewater, will be held at UW System office in Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Avenue. Livestream coverage of the meeting is available here.

Regents met in committee Thursday morning.

The Education Committee considered approval of a change in UW-Green Bay’s mission statement and two UW collaborative degree programs. The committee also heard updates on the UW System associate degree program and the UW System Task Force on Advancing Teacher Education and School Leadership in Wisconsin.

The Business and Finance Committee heard updates on shared services and considered approval of new salary ranges for executives and several contractual agreements.

The Capital Planning and Budget Committee considered approval of several building and renovation projects and heard an update on State Building Commission action.

The Audit Committee heard updates on audit reports, risk management and compliance.

The full board will meet in closed and open session Friday afternoon. The board will discuss student behavioral health, the restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension and high impact practices in open session.

On Friday, the board will hear reports from the Board President John Behling and UW System President Ray Cross and consider approval of committee action. Updates on the chancellor search at UW-Whitewater, President Trump’s recent executive order on campus speech, and the 2019-21 state budget are on the agenda.