Minutes of the University Committee
for September 1, 1998

The University Committee met at 12:35 in CART 233. Present were committee members Laura Gellott, Fran Kavenik, James Kinchen, Angie McArthur and Carol Saffioti-Hughes. Also present were Larry Duetsch and Jack Keating.

Chancellor Keating reviewed a draft of his proposal to create six enrollment/retention task forces. These task forces are to address aspects of enrollment, inform the University Planning Council of achievements and challenges, and recommend strategies related to enrollment development by January 1999. The task forces will focus on the following topics: recruitment of students (traditional and non-traditional) including issues of quality, diversity; advising; student life; accessibility of programs and degrees; service climate; and marketing/public relations. The Chancellor will chair a coordinating committee made up of the chairs of the task forces. The Committee agreed that at its next meeting it would recommend faculty members for appointment to one seat on the student life and service climate task forces and for two seats on each of the other task forces.

The Chancellor next described arrangements he would like to make to replace Charlotte Westerhaus as Assistant to the Chancellor for Equity and Diversity during her leave of absence. He indicated that he has examined a number of alternatives and has decided to divide her duties during this period. He has obtained assurance from UW System legal staff that they will promptly handle all matters that require a person with legal training. Locally, he said he would like to appoint Larry Duetsch to oversee search and screen operations on a half-time basis through the end of 1998 and wished to have input from the Committee in this regard because Larry already holds a half-time appointment as Secretary of the Faculty. The Chancellor expressed his belief that such an interim appointment would not pose a conflict of interest for Larry as Secretary of the Faculty and hoped that the Committee would agree that he could hold both positions temporarily. Members of the Committee appreciated the Chancellor's interest in seeking their advice on this matter, but were sharply divided in their reaction to this proposal. Some saw no reason for concern about the temporary combination of roles that Larry would play; others saw the arrangement as very troublesome. To minimize the likelihood of a conflict of interest, the Chancellor said that he would excuse Larry from regular attendance at his staff meetings, asking only that he attend as needed. After extended discussion, the Committee was unable to reach consensus in regard to the Chancellor's proposals for dealing with the leave of absence, except to agree not to oppose them, given the circumstances. Committee members expressed great concern about the prospective loss of diversity in the administration if Charlotte does not return from her leave. When asked what he planned to do in that case, the Chancellor stated that he would undertake a national search to fill the position as soon as Charlotte makes her intentions known and left open the possibility that he would extend Larry's appointment for the duration of that search despite objections by some.

Finally, the Committee agreed to meet regularly at 3:30 on Tuesday during the Fall semester, beginning September 8.

The meeting adjourned at 2:10.