Minutes of the University Committee
for January 18, 2000

The Committee met at 2:10 in 262 CART. Members present were Walter Feldt, Laura Gellott, Fran Kavenik, Carol Saffioti-Hughes, and Lee Van Dyke. Also present were Don Cress and Larry Duetsch.

The Committee discussed Dean Cress' proposal to add language to UWPF 6.04 to ensure that each nontenured faculty member receives an annual written evaluation of her/his progress toward achieving tenure. There was some discussion of providing this written evaluation each time the person's contract is renewed, rather than annually. Before proceeding further, the Committee directed the Secretary of the Faculty to seek an opinion on the proposal from the UW System Office of General Counsel.

Dean Cress left the meeting and James Kinchen joined the meeting.

The Committee authorized the Secretary of the Faculty to proceed with a series of committee appointments to replace faculty members on sabbatical.

The Committee briefly considered conducting a survey of departments to determine the extent to which teaching members of the academic staff are allowed to participate in departmental affairs. The UW System will soon be studying this matter and it would be useful to have better information concerning local practices. Before proceeding with such a survey, it was agreed that the advice of the Academic Staff Committee should first be sought.

The Committee discussed alternative ways of surveying Faculty opinion regarding the performance of key campus administrators. Some felt strongly that, to be fair, the Committee should solicit Faculty opinion periodically as a routine matter and not do this only at a time of crisis. The Committee agreed to continue the discussion at its next meeting.

The Committee agreed to ask the Admissions, Records, and Student Information Committee to examine the implications of the UW System decision to adopt ACT scores for math and English placements.

Finally, the Committee briefly discussed possible faculty nominees for the NCA Accreditation Steering Committee and agreed to continue this discussion at its next meeting as well.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30.