Minutes of the University Committee
January 16, 2001

The Committee met at 2:05 in 262 CART. Members present were John Buenker, Walter Feldt, Laura Gellott, Fran Kavenik, Greg Mayer, and Carol Lee Saffioti-Hughes. Also present was Larry Duetsch.

The Committee reviewed the established procedures for conducting the University Committee election and instructed the Secretary of the Faculty to issue a call for nominations. Three new members need to be elected at this time - two for 3-year terms (replacing Gellott and Saffioti-Hughes) and one to serve the last year of an unexpired term (replacing Kavenik, who replaced Van Dyke). Professor Buenker indicated that he does not intend to serve during his 2001-02 sabbatical and expects to be replaced for that year, bringing the number of new members next year to four.

The Committee discussed the first draft of the Status of Women Progress Report and instructed the Secretary of the Faculty to provide information to more fully document the roles women have played in faculty governance in recent years. Professor Kavenik said the Chancellor is expected to form a committee that will survey staff members and students regarding progress that has been made and issues that still need to be addressed.

The Committee briefly discussed the UW-P Classified Affirmative Action Plan but had no criticism of it.

The Committee identified faculty nominees to fill vacancies on the Diversity Monitoring and Assessment Committee and the Enrollment Management Council.

The Committee discussed the new procedure that requires students (and instructors) to complete a "Request for an Incomplete." There was agreement that it is desirable to create an administrative record of the work that students still need to complete. Nevertheless, some members felt strongly that this procedure limits faculty prerogatives in dealing with students and therefore should have had Senate approval. Not everyone agreed, but a Senate review will be scheduled.

Finally, the Committee examined a revised "Permit to Register for Internship" and agreed that this matter did not require Senate review.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:30.