Minutes of the University Committee
for December 14, 2001

The Committee met at 8:40 in D135 MOLN. Members present were Walter Feldt, Susan Haller, Peggy James, James Kinchen, and Don Kummings. Also present was Larry Duetsch.

Professor James said that the State's budgetary shortfall may prompt givebacks and intensify the pressure to increase faculty workloads on our campus. Although the formal faculty workload policy (PSF11/95-96, which can be found at <http://uwp.edu/staff/gov/senate/psf9596/psf11.cfm>) includes a 21-hour teaching expectation, UW System data seem to show that
our faculty teaching loads have declined in recent years. While the System data need to be checked for accuracy, the current budget situation has brought calls for more careful scrutiny of teaching assignments to hold down the amount spent of adjuncts. Members of the Committee agreed that it is probably in the long-term interest of faculty to take the initiative in developing appropriate guidelines for the implementation of our workload policy, rather than letting the administration do it.

At this point Chancellor Keating joined the meeting to consult with the Committee on the appointment of an interim provost who would serve until the new Provost is able to begin work on March 1. The Chancellor said Interim Provost Watters will be leaving his position in a matter of days and in the current budgetary climate it is important that another interim provost be appointed. Committee members enthusiastically endorsed the Chancellor's choice for this transitional period and thanked him for seeking their views on the matter.

After the Chancellor had left, the Committee agreed to call upon departments to reexamine their workload policies - few of which have been updated since 1996 - by the beginning of February. It was agreed that this should be done in preparation for discussion of effective implementation of the 21-hour teaching expectation during the February 19 meeting of the Faculty Senate.

The meeting adjourned at 9:45.