Tag: UW System

February Board of Regents Meeting

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet in Madison on Thursday and Friday, February 9 and 10. UW-Madison is hosting the meeting, which will be held at Union South, 1308 Dayton Street. Registration for the Zoom link for the meeting is here.

In addition to the formal meeting, an informal welcome reception and tour will be held at the Chemistry Building on Wednesday afternoon, and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin will host a reception and dinner on Thursday evening.

Members of the board will be in committee meetings Thursday morning:

  • The Audit Committee will hear several reports and updates including the UW-Madison NCAA Division I Athletics 2021-22 Report.
  • The Capital Planning & Budget Committee will consider approval of increasing the budget for the backup generator project at the UW-Madison Primate Center, selling a house on the UW-Stout campus, and making changes to a Regent Policy Document and evaluation criteria for major capital projects. Members will also hear a presentation from UW-Madison on its capital projects program and the importance addressing facility needs.
  • The Business & Finance Committee will consider approval of several contractual agreements and hear two reports on information technology projects. UW-Madison will also give a presentation on its efforts to generate additional revenue and improve operations.
  • The Education Committee will consider six new degree programs, including two at UW-Madison, and hear a report on recruiting and supporting international students and an update from the Direct Admission Task Force. UW-Madison will also deliver a presentation on artificial intelligence and ChatGPT.

The full board will meet Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The agenda Thursday includes updates from UW System President Jay Rothman and Board of Regents President Karen Walsh. President Rothman will discuss the recent student survey on free speech and provide an update on UW-Platteville at Richland and the UW System 2023-28 Strategic Plan. The board will also meet in closed session to discuss honorary degrees at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee.

On Friday, the board will consider approval of committee action, hear a presentation from UW-Madison on the Wisconsin Idea and business partnerships, and recognize recipients of the Board of Regents 2023 Awards, including UW-Madison Communication Arts Professor Lori Kido Lopez, a PROFS Steering Committee member since 2020.

UW System Student Free Speech Survey Results

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Yesterday, the University of Wisconsin System released results from a survey (below) of students on their perceptions of free speech on campus. The survey was proposed last spring, but its implementation was delayed due to questions about how the survey would be administered. PROFS was very concerned about the survey and called on UW System Interim President Michael Falbo to cancel, rather than postpone, the survey.

The survey was completed last December by nearly 10,500 students representing every four-year campus within UW System. The response rate ranged from 9.4% at UW-Milwaukee to 19.1% at UW-Platteville.

About 40% of students identified as liberal or very liberal, while more than 52% indicated they were moderate, conservative, or very conservative.

Results showed that many students are concerned about how others may view their opinions and worry their grades could suffer if they expressed themselves in class.

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December Board of Regents Meeting

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet at the Gordon Dining and Event Center at UW-Madison today and tomorrow, December 8 and 9. Registration for the livestream of the open portions of the meeting is here.

Regents will meet in committee Thursday morning:

  • The Audit and Business & Finance Committees will meet jointly to discuss the draft 2022 Annual Financial Report. The draft report states “…UW System’s Net Position increased significantly, from $6 billion in fiscal year 2021 to nearly $6.4 billion in 2022. This increase is largely attributable to our investments in capital assets and other restricted assets, such as pension assets.” The draft report further states that “UW System has proven to be both flexible and resilient. Instead of returning to ‘business as usual,’ the UW System is applying the knowledge gained from the pandemic, with respect to digital pedagogy, student access, research, and dynamic approaches to work, to address current challenges of rising inflation, changing enrollments, and volatility in capital markets.”
  • The Business & Finance Committee will consider approval graduate and professional school tuition increases at UW-Madison, two collective bargaining agreements, and new salary ranges for senior executives (UW System president, senior vice presidents and vice presidents; and chancellors and provosts/vice chancellors). The committee will also hear reports on faculty turnover and faculty salary adjustments.
  • The Education Committee will consider two new degree programs at UW-Milwaukee and hear reports on the Wisconsin Partnership Program, credit for prior learning, and dual enrollment.
  • The Audit Committee will hear updates on the FY23 Audit Plan Progress Report and the Annual Report of Regent Policy Document 4-21, Commitment to Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
  • The Capital Planning & Budget Committee will consider approval to increase the budget of UW-Madison’s Computer, Data and Information Science Building and UW-Madison’s purchase of a building and almost 6 acres on University Avenue. The building will house those programs displaced by the redevelopment of the Mosse Humanities Building. The committee will also discuss approval of several building and renovation projects, including projects at Grainger Hall, the Law Building, the Materials Science Engineering Building, and a UW-Madison parking structure.

The full board will meet Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. On Thursday, the board will hear updates from UW System President Jay Rothman and Regent President Karen Walsh. Rothman will provide an update on the recent announcement that UW-Platteville at Richland will end in-person instruction at the end of this academic year, while Walsh will update the board on chancellor searches at UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater. The board will also discuss and consider approval of the 2023-28 Strategic Plan. Finally, the board will move into closed session to discuss a naming gift at UW-Stevens Point, chancellor salary adjustments, and an employment agreement for the Regent Executive Assistant and Corporate Secretary.

On Friday, Regents will approve committee action and amendments to Regent By-laws. The board will also hear a panel discussion on the Dairy Innovation Hub.

According to the agenda, Governor Tony Evers may also visit the Regents on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.

 

 

UW System Survey on Student Perceptions

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Hundreds of students from each University of Wisconsin System institution received emails today inviting them to participate in a survey on perceptions of free speech and civil dialogue on campus. The full survey is below. Last week, UW System President Jay Rothman announced the relaunch of a revised survey that had been planned for last spring.

PROFS spoke out against the need for such a survey last spring, and last week PROFS President Michael Bernard-Donals told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that faculty are “still unsure why the survey is needed in the first place because climate studies have shown pretty clearly that students from various groups, political and otherwise, feel that they can express their opinions freely.”

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The GOP Higher Education Agenda

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As we enter the final week of the 2022 campaign season, PROFS President Michael Bernard-Donals shares his thoughts on the value of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin System to the state and why it’s important to set aside political partisanship when it comes to the university.

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October Board of Regents Meeting

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet at UW-Eau Claire tomorrow and Friday, September 29 and 30. Registration for the livestream of the open portions of the meeting is here.

Regents will meet in committee Thursday morning:

  • The Audit Committee will hear several reports and updates, including the FY2023 Audit Plan Progress Report and an Information Technology Security Program update.
  • The Capital Planning and Budget Committee will consider approval of construction projects and the sale of parcels of land at several UW System institutions and granting authority of UW-Madison to enter into a lease for multiple schools and colleges at University Research Park. UW-Madison will also present a master plan for the West Innovation Park.
  • The Business and Finance Committee will hear a presentation on UW-Eau Claire’s financial planning in support of its strategic plan and a proposal to reorganize the UW System Office of Finance and Administration. The committee will also review Regent Policy Document 22-2, Disposal of Works of Art.
  • The Education Committee will hear a presentation on strategies to expand high-impact experiences for LGBTQIA+ students, an update from the Caregiving Task Force, and a panel discussion on serving students with disabilities. The committee will also consider approval of a new business analytics degree program at UW-La Crosse.

The full board will meet Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. Thursday’s agenda includes updates from UW System President Jay Rothman and Regent President Karen Walsh. Walsh will update the board on chancellor searches at UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville and preview the board’s November meeting, while Rothman’s agenda includes updates on his first 100 days, a trip to Washington, DC, the start of the fall semester, and preliminary enrollment figures. UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt will also address the board on the topic of inclusion and innovation.

On Friday, the board will consider approval of the previous day’s committee action, hear a panel discussion on the value of economic development collaborations, and present the 2022 Staff Excellence Awards. An optional closed session is also on the agenda.

 

 

Statements on Supreme Court Decision

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The University of Wisconsin System, UW-Madison, and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health all released statements last Friday following the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

UW System President Jay Rothman:

We know that abortion remains a highly contentious issue that directly affects our students. We are reviewing the U.S. Supreme Court decision to determine what impact it may have on our universities. Like others, we will monitor the legal process surrounding this issue and will adhere to the law as it continues to evolve.

UW-Madison Interim Chancellor John Karl Scholz:

This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision on Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health that overturns the precedent set by Roe v Wade almost 50 years ago. We recognize the decision evokes a wide range of feelings in our community as it alters long-standing federal protections and allows states to regulate abortion without federal constitutional standards.

While UW–Madison will continue to meet all applicable legal requirements, we are facing a period of uncertainty as the new legal status for abortion access in Wisconsin is interpreted and challenged. We know this uncertainty may affect some members of our community more than others.

We are concerned about the decision’s implications for patient care and clinical training of obstetrics and gynecology residents. We will continue to work to understand the full impact of the Supreme Court’s decision and assess its implications for the campus community.

We encourage you to seek support and community in ways that feel right to you. Campus resources are also available to anyone seeking assistance in processing change and uncertainty:

Students may contact University Health Services by calling 608-265-5600 (option 9) or schedule an appointment through MyUHS.Employees may access services through the Employee Assistance Office.

Employees may access services through the Employee Assistance Office.

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Dean Robert N. Golden, MD:

The decision by the Supreme Court of the United States on Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to overturn the abortion access precedent set by Roe v Wade has significant implications for the patients and populations we serve. The ruling is directly relevant to the relationship between women and their health care professionals, and we are assessing how it may impact clinical training.

We remain completely dedicated to our patients, and will provide the best care possible and trustworthy, accurate medical information. We will continue to provide outstanding, comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology residency training. And we will continue to advance health equity by identifying ways to support marginalized populations that are disproportionally affected by barriers to accessing reproductive healthcare.

We will continue to meet all applicable legal requirements. While there may be some uncertainties regarding legal interpretations of state statutes, we will continue to comply with laws related to reproductive health care.

 

UW System President Jay Rothman on For the Record

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University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman appeared on WISC-TV’s For the Record. In an interview with Naomi Kowles, Rothman discussed continuing an in-state undergraduate tuition freeze, his support of incoming UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, plans to implement a modified campus free speech survey in the fall, and how he plans to work with members of the Wisconsin Legislature.

 

February Board of Regents Meeting

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet in Madison on Thursday and Friday, February 10 and 11. UW-Madison is hosting the meeting, which will be held in Union South’s Varsity Hall, 1308 West Dayton Street. Registration for the Webex videoconference of the meeting is here.

Regents are invited to a site visit and reception at the College of Engineering Wednesday evening. Regent business will not be conducted during this informational visit. A new building on the Engineering campus is top priority of UW-Madison, and Governor Tony Evers recently signed bipartisan legislation providing $1 million to plan and design the building.

Regents begin the two-day meeting with committee work on Thursday morning:

The Audit Committee will discuss several reports and consider a new policy relating to youth programs on UW System campuses.

The Capital Planning and Budget Committee will hear a presentation by UW-Madison on future facilities planning and consider granting authority for UW-Madison to sell two parcels of land to University Research Park and design and renovate two lab spaces.

The Research, Economic Development and Innovation Committee will hear a report from UW-Madison on recent biotechnology research and discuss corporate research and clinical trial contracting processes.

The Business and Finance Committee will hear a report from UW-Madison on strategic investments and consider approval of several agreements at UW-Madison and UW System. They will also hear updates on the budget and gifts, grants, and contracts.

The Education Committee will consider approval of a realignment of academic units at UW-Milwaukee, a transfer agreement between UW-Stevens Point and North Central Technical College, and ten new degree programs, including three at UW-Madison. Committee members will also discuss a change to the class audit policy and application fees waivers and reductions. UW-Madison will also host a presentation on student academic success.

The full board meeting Thursday afternoon includes updates from Regent President Edmund Manydeeds and a presentation from UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank. The Regents will move into closed session to discuss compensation agreements for three UW-Madison football coaches, an employee who earns more than 75% of the UW System President’s salary, and UW System chancellors and president. The Regents will also discuss crime prevention and detection strategies.

On Friday, the Regents will hear an update from outgoing UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson. Thompson has served as interim president since June 2020 and will step down March 18. Last month, Regents named Milwaukee attorney Jay Rothman as UW System President. Rothman begins his duties June 1 and former Regent President Michael Falbo will serve as interim president from March 18 until Rothman takes office.

The Regents have cancelled their one-day meeting on March 10.