Minutes of the University Committee
for September 21, 2001

The Committee met at 8:30 in D135 MOLN. Members present were Walter Feldt, Susan Haller, Peggy James, James Kinchen, Don Kummings, and Greg Mayer. Also present were Larry Duetsch and Gene Goodman.

At the Committee's request, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor Goodman described the process that is being followed in developing an institutional space utilization plan. He said that the lack of a master plan brought the development of a Fine Arts project to a halt last Spring. After we develop a master plan, it is expected that we will be allowed to advance one or more proposals to renovate/expand our present facilities.

The Committee questioned whether the extent of faculty consultation has been adequate, particularly in regard to proposals that have been put forward to have departments share more space. Members of the Committee expressed concern that increasing constraints on research space will make it more difficult to recruit and retain faculty members in a number of departments. The Associate Vice Chancellor said that the plan is expected to accommodate new instructional pedagogies within UW System guidelines, and said that flexible research space needs to be built into the plan. He said that, at this point, nothing has been decided and agreed that the Committee on Academic Planning should be consulted about the plan. Since the deans are members of the Facilities Planning Committee, it was agreed that they should bring a draft plan to the CAP for comment, especially in regard to pedagogical implications.

At this point the Associate Vice Chancellor left to attend another meeting.

The Committee approved the agenda for the October 2, 2001, meeting of the Faculty Senate, after agreeing on the wording of a written question that they wished to direct to the Chancellor. They also devised a plan to poll the faculty before the end of this semester in regard to enabling legislation that would grant faculty the right to engage in collective bargaining. The first step in the plan will be to conduct a committee of the whole discussion of the pros and cons at this Senate meeting. The next step will be to invite further discussion at the Faculty meeting scheduled for October 25. In early November, faculty will be asked to indicate whether they support such legislation.

The Committee discussed a revision of the Criteria for Promotion to Professor that was recently developed by the Personnel Review Committee and agreed to ask the PRC to consider a further modification of the language. The Committee agreed that they would schedule the new criteria for review at the next Senate meeting.

Finally, Professor James reported on a meeting with UW System Vice President Frank Goldberg. Each of the UW institutions is being asked to help develop accountability indicators that will be collected on an annual basis. To some degree, these indicators will be tailored to the select missions of the institutions.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00.