Board of Regents
Minutes of the February, 1997 Board of Regents meeting
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
of the
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
Madison, Wisconsin
Held in room 1820 Van Hise Hall
Friday February 7, 1997
APPROVAL OF MINUTES.........................................................................................................................................
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD..............................................................................................
Report of the Regent member of the Educational Communications Board.............
Report of the Regent member of the Hospital Authority Board.....................................
Report of the Regent member of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board
Report on legislative matters...................................................................................................................
Additional items....................................................................................................................................................
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE SYSTEM............................................................................................
Advanced Placement Program: Wisconsin High School Students’ Participation
Continues to Grow................................................................................................................................................
Low Student Loan Defaults Among UW System Students..........................................................
Good News Items.....................................................................................................................................................
Institutional Gifts: UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, and UW-Milwaukee..............................................................
UW Faculty Recognition..........................................................................................................................................
UW-Madison: Highly Rated in Educational Value............................................................................................
UW-Parkside: Undergraduate Student Research Experience Program.........................................................
UW-Parkside Graduate Receives Prestigious Internship...................................................................................
UW Faculty Go to Washington, D.C.......................................................................................................................
REPORT OF THE BUSINESS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE........................................................................
Consent Agenda Items........................................................................................................................................
UW-Eau Claire: Authority to Construct a Putnam Hall Electrical Renovation and Data Cabling Project.................
UW-Green Bay: Authority to Increase the Project Scope and Budget for the 1997-99 Academic Building.............
UW‑Madison: Authority to Construct a Campus Fire Alarm and Security Reporting System Project.....................
UW-Madison: Authority to Increase the Budget, Approval of the Design Report, and Authority to Construct the Waisman Center Addition and Remodeling Project...................................................................................................................................................
UW-Stout: Approval of the Design Report and Authority to Construct the Applied Arts Remodeling Project.......
Contractual Agreement with Heska Corporation.......................................................................................................
Bequest of Elizabeth C. Davis...................................................................................................................................
1997-98 General Compensation Distribution Plan and Guidelines.........................................................................
Request to Approve New Category A Academic Staff Titles..................................................................................
Approval of the minutes of the December 5, 1996 meeting of the Business and Finance Committee
Annual Financial Report...............................................................................................................................
UW-Madison: Annual Report On Research Support.....................................................................
Report of the Senior Vice President for Finance........................................................................
Gifts, Grants and Contracts...................................................................................................................................
Update: Student Fee Refund Policy (Southworth, et al. vs. Grebe. et al.)...................................................
Additional Items.................................................................................................................................................
TIAA-CREF Bill........................................................................................................................................................
Budget Update..........................................................................................................................................................
Trust Funds..............................................................................................................................................................
Closed Session.......................................................................................................................................................
REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE...............................................................................................
Consent Agenda Items......................................................................................................................................
University of Wisconsin System 1996-97 Report on Remedial Education..............................................................
UW-Madison: Authorization to recruit: Dean, Law School..................................................................................
UW-Superior: Authorization to recruit: Provost and Vice Chancellor...................................................................
UW-Madison, School of Business Revised Authorization to recruit: Associate Professor or Professor...............
UW-Madison, Medical School Department of Medicine: Authorization to recruit at a salary above the Executive Salary Group Six maximum: Associate Professor or Professor............................................................................................................................
UW-Milwaukee: Distinguished Professor.............................................................................................................
UW-Stout: Naming to an endowed Chair...............................................................................................................
UW-Madison: Appointment of Named Professors................................................................................................
General Education Programs: UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls............................
Excess Credits Reduction working group: Report on progress in developing implementation plan
Report of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.................................................
Early Math Placement Testing Program.............................................................................................................
1996-97 Report on Remedial Education.............................................................................................................
New program authorization: B.S., Service Management, UW-Stout...............................
North Central Accreditation Report, UW-Whitewater........................................................
Draft Statement on Learning Outcomes for the Baccalaureate Degree...............
21ST CENTURY IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE...................................................................................
Progress Report: The “3-Plus” Group.....................................................................................................
Instructional Academic Staff Study...................................................................................................
Report on Status of All Other Study Implementation Efforts........................................
UNFINISHED OR ADDITIONAL BUSINESS......................................................................................................
Election of Trust Officer.............................................................................................................................
CLOSED SESSION......................................................................................................................................................
UW-Milwaukee: Honorary Degree........................................................................................................................
UW-Stevens Point: Approval of Starting Salary: Interim Vice Chancellor...........................................................
UW-Madison: Approval of temporary base salary adjustment above the Executive Salary
Group Six maximum............................................................................................................................................
UW-Madison: Approval of temporary base salary adjustment above the Executive Salary
Group Six maximum............................................................................................................................................
UW-Extension: Request to Approve the Appointment and Salary for the Interim Chancellor...............................
UW-Madison: Honorary Degrees..........................................................................................................................
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
of the
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
Madison, Wisconsin
Held in room 1820 Van Hise Hall
Friday February 7, 1997
8:30 a.m.
- President Grebe presiding -
PRESENT: Regents Boyle, Brandes, Brown, DeSimone, Grebe, Hempel, Krutsch, Lubar, MacNeil, Smith, and Steil
ABSENT: Regent Barry, Benson, DeBraska, James, Orr and Randall
Upon motion by Regent Boyle, seconded by Regent DeSimone, minutes of the meeting of the Board of Regents held on December 6, 1996, were unanimously approved as distributed.
- - -
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD
Report of the Regent member of the Educational Communications Board
Regent Grebe observed that a written report had been provided, and invited Regent Boyle to comment upon it. He noted that a budget item requesting funding to support the transfer to Digital Technology for television had been discussed at the January 31, 1997 meeting, adding that the timing of this request was “of critical importance” since delays in planning and funding could affect FCC licensure. Regent Lubar asked about the amount of the budget request, and was informed that the ECB is submitting a capital budget request of $44 million and the UW is requesting $4.1 million to make the transfer. Regent Boyle called this “critical” because funding, planning and regulation of this technology will affect the awarding of licenses. Regent Boyle also noted that, at the December meeting, the ECB board approved requests for Distance Education grants. About half of the funds awarded will go to projects submitted by UW institutions, most of which are “very innovative” and relate to curricular developments in the K-12 educational system.
-
Report of the Regent member of the Hospital Authority Board
Regent Grebe called on Regent Steil to provide an oral report of the most recent meeting of the Hospital Authority Board, which met February 6, 1997. Regent Steil reported that Gordon Derzon (CEO) had informed the board that the first six months of the fiscal year had been “very good,” with inpatient admissions and clinical activity higher than budgeted and higher than the first 6 months of the previous year, while the average length of stay continued to decline as expected. Overall revenue for the year to date is approximately 2.9% higher than budgeted.
Regent Steil reported that the UW Hospital and Clinics had been awarded “Accreditation with commendation” from the Joint Commission Accrediting Hospitals (JCAH). He observed that this is the highest level attainable, that very few academic medical centers receive this designation, and only 11% of all health centers surveyed in 1996 were so recognized.
Regent Steil also reported briefly regarding a number of items, including a new computerized human resources and payroll system that was implemented January 1 and a newly signed relationship between the Wausau Medical Center and UW Campus Comprehensive Cancer Center. In discussion following his report, Regent DeSimone asked about the establishment of similar relationships throughout the state, having observed that the goal of creating such networks had been cited as a positive result of privatization; he was informed by Regents Steil and Boyle that there are a number of such relationships in place, at different levels of involvement ranging from Freeport, Illinois, in the Fox River Valley, and now in Wausau. Regent Steil also reported that the Facility Selection Committee (chaired by Regent Boyle) expects to recommend a design for the East side clinic at the March meeting, while design building firms for the West side Clinic will be presented at the April meeting. Dean Farrell (Medical School, UW-Madison) discussed the HealthStar Project, indicating that they hope to receive a significant contribution from the hospital and the Medical Foundation. The expected first-stage costs will be approximately $150 million, $100 million of which will be raised privately, and $50 million to come from State funds.
-
Report of the Regent member of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board
Regent Grebe noted that Regent Barry had submitted a written report concerning the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. There were no questions or comments concerning that report.
-
Vice President Olien had submitted a written legislative report; there were no questions or comments for him regarding that report.
-
Regent Grebe noted that, the previous day, he had met with the UW System Faculty Representatives, who delivered a resolution to him regarding their recommendations to the Board regarding the pay plan recommendations. Noting that he found the meeting informative, he reported that he had assured the Faculty Representatives that the members of the Board would lend “very strong support” for the pay plan recommendation submitted to the Governor, with the intention to work in support of those recommendations throughout the legislative process; he also indicated a willingness and eagerness to work with them throughout that process as well.
- - -
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE SYSTEM
President Lyall began her report by introducing John Ostheimer (Vice Chancellor and Provost, UW-Parkside), who provided a presentation focusing on UW-Parkside’s Information Literacy Program. Vice Chancellor Ostheimer noted that the goal of this required program is to help students learn to use the many sources of information available to them, to help them work with those sources in both print and electronic formats, and to familiarize with the available information resources in a way that is dynamic, interactive and responsive to their needs as students. The UW-Parkside Information Literacy program promotes skills that are “building blocks” that help students learn a particular subject more immediately and that also serve as tools for supplementing students’ future educational experiences. Associate Vice Chancellor Ed Meachen discussed the Information Literacy module in more detail, noting that the course is linked to the two credit University Seminar course that functions as an introduction for students to the university. Perceived as a university “survival skill,” information literacy is taught as a two-week long component of the University Seminar. It was observed that the portion of the program demonstrated for the Board may now be taken at any time, since it is taught as a self-directed course available via the World Wide Web. Bruce Johnson, demonstrating the program, noted that students are required to use technology to complete the program -- they use technology to learn how the technology can be used. Among other advantages, this means that the program can be updated in a more timely fashion and can therefore be more responsive to students’ critique. He showed how students who have accessed the module’s World Wide Web page are prompted to work through research exercises that require them to look up and find books and periodicals (both in print and electronically) as well as other resources at UW-Parkside; the course seeks to guide students in citing and evaluating sources (noting the differences in types of publications, for example) as they improve their research skills.
Mr. Meachen also noted that an important component in the development of the Information Literacy Module is the fact that students contribute to the constant improvement of the course. Their assessments of the program and its components are analyzed to guide the course’s future design and development. As a result, it has been dynamically and interactively re-designed to meet the needs of the students each year that it has been in place; the goals and objectives remain the same, while the methods have been improved each year to be more effective. In closing, Vice Chancellor Ostheimer noted that a final benefit of the course is that it can be completed from a distance, if necessary.
In discussion following the report, Regent Krutsch asked whether a similar but more “generic” program could be developed; she inquired further about performing an additional survey of students later in their academic careers, to investigate whether information they had previously perceived negatively became more relevant later on. She was informed that the former question was in the process of being addressed, as a K-12 version of the program was being developed. Regarding the latter question, Regent Krutsch was informed that higher level students are tutored more intensively, in their major areas, as needed. When he asked about the extent to which this program was required, or whether there were exceptions allowed, Regent Grebe was told that some transfer students were excused, while for all incoming freshman and many transfer students it is an absolute requirement. When he inquired further about the number of students completing the requirement after graduation, he was informed that such cases were exceptional; the current goal is to have students complete the requirement early in their university careers, either as part of the university seminar or, in cases where entering students don't need the university seminar, as a stand alone entry.
-
Advanced Placement Program: Wisconsin High School Students’ Participation Continues to Grow
President Lyall reminded the Board that the UW System has continued to encourage capable high school students throughout the state to challenge themselves by participating in the national Advanced Placement (AP) program, in which that high school students can study for AP exams in 29 academic fields (including history, basic sciences, social sciences, and languages). UW institutions accept AP scores at stipulated levels for college credit, which helps freshmen to shorten their total time-to-degree or to take more advanced courses earlier in their college careers. Noting that that the new AP participation rates had been released, President Lyall announced that Wisconsin students’ participation has increased more than twice as fast as the national rate, growing by 15% over last year; the data also indicate that minority students are also increasing their participation in the program. Many Wisconsin high school students had their AP scores sent to 19 UW campuses, which received a total of 5,302 AP test grades. President Lyall noted that, if all of these grades meet the stipulated levels for acceptance for credit in the UW System, they represent roughly 500 freshman course slots opened for other students and offer these students the opportunity to perform more advanced work.
-
Low Student Loan Defaults Among UW System Students
President Lyall reported that recently released data on student loan defaults indicates that UW student borrowers have low default rates. She noted that this issue receives a good deal of attentions, since rising college costs are paralleled by rising loan burdens that students incur. Wisconsin student borrowers continue to have low default rates: while the national default rate on student loans for all institutions was 10.7% (down from 22% four years ago), the UW System rate was just 4.1%. She observed that this frees up nearly $1.5 billion for new student loans within existing Federal student aid appropriations. In discussion following President Lyall’s report, Regent Krutsch inquired whether this low rate was related to an truly low default rate (in other words, whether the low rate represents a high collections rate), or due to an increasingly strict student loan certification process; Regent Lubar noted that when loans are written off, the default rate is also affected; President Lyall replied all of these factors, as well as a conscious effort to take aggressive action, had contributed to the current data.
-
Institutional Gifts: UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, and UW-Milwaukee
President Lyall observed that three “very important” gifts had been made to UW institutions.
• A $1.5 million endowment fund has been established with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation to support the Dennis L. Heyde Chair of Entrepreneurship in the College of Business. Mr. Heyde, a UW-Eau Claire alumnus, is the immediate past-president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and an Eau Claire area entrepreneur.
• A $1.5 million gift from Robert and Debbie Cervenka has been provided for a named professorship in manufacturing at UW-Stout.
• The GE Foundation has given $450,000 to UW‑Milwaukee; this gift will enable the School of Business and the School of Education to work together with Milwaukee Public School principals to identify "best practices" in business that might be applied to school management.
*
President Lyall also noted that several members of the UW faculty have been nationally recognized: Eleven UW faculty have received Fulbright scholarships for 1997, despite increased competition caused by national budget cuts. Six UW-Madison faculty are recipients of Fulbrights; five faculty members at other UW System institutions will also receive these scholarships. They will be used in Chile, Thailand Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Eritrea, Norway, Iceland, Egypt and Hungary.
*
UW-Madison: Highly Rated in Educational Value
Kiplinger magazine has ranked UW-Madison number 3 in educational value, which they define as educational quality related to the costs of an education. President Lyall noted her skepticism about many types of rankings, but expressed her belief that this ranking indicates that “we’re doing something right in this environment.”
*
UW-Parkside: Undergraduate Student Research Experience Program
President Lyall reported that a $10,000 grant from the Abbott Laboratories Fund had been awarded to the Undergraduate Student Research Experience program at UW-Parkside; the award will go to their Department of Biological Sciences. Twelve students with a concentration in molecular biology to do research work with biological science faculty members over the next year; they will be designated as “Abbott Laboratory Fellows,” will receive a stipend and a small supply allowance for their work; will attend molecular biology seminars and will present a "research experience" talk at the end of their semester of research experience.
*
UW-Parkside Graduate Receives Prestigious Internship
President Lyall reported that Christine Epperson, (UW-Parkside ‘96) recently began a paid internship with the National Geographic Society, where she'll work in the cartography department of the society's "Traveler" magazine. She noted that this graduate was selected to receive the only one of these nationally awarded internships from among 180 other applicants nationally.
*
UW Faculty Go to Washington, D.C.
President Lyall concluded her report by noting that two Wisconsin faculty are also going to Washington, D.C. Professor Carl Schultz (UW-Madison, Department of Economics) will serve a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of the Treasury; and Michael Dombeck (formerly of UW-Stevens Point’s College of Natural Resources) has been chosen to lead the US Forest Service.
- - -
REPORT OF THE BUSINESS AND FINANCE Committee
Regent Hempel, Chair, provided the report. She began by announcing that Resolutions 7373 - 7381 had been adopted by the Business and Finance Committee, and moved their adoption by the Full Board. Her motion was seconded by Regent DeSimone, and passed unanimously.
UW-Eau Claire: Authority to Construct a Putnam Hall Electrical Renovation and Data Cabling Project
Resolution 7373: That, upon the recommendation of the UW-Eau Claire Chancellor and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, authority be granted to construct a Putnam Hall Electrical Renovation and Data Cabling project at a cost of $170,000 using Program Revenues - Cash (Housing).
UW-Green Bay: Authority to Increase the Project Scope and Budget for the 1997-99 Academic Building
Resolution 7374: That, upon the recommendation of the UW-Green Bay Chancellor and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, authority be granted to increase the project scope and budget ($2,000,000 of Gift Funds) for the Academic Building included in the 1997-99 Capital Budget request for a revised estimated total project cost of $17,379,000 ($15,379,000 1997-99 General Fund Supported Borrowing and $2,000,000 Gift Funds).
UW‑Madison: Authority to Construct a Campus Fire Alarm and Security Reporting System Project
Resolution 7375: That, upon the recommendation of the UW-Madison Chancellor and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, authority be granted to construct a Campus Fire Alarm and Security Reporting System project at an estimated total project cost of $1,669,000 ($1,360,800 General Fund Supported Borrowing - Health and Safety Funds and $308,200 Program Revenue Supported Borrowing).
Resolution 7376: That, upon the recommendation of the UW-Madison Chancellor and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the following actions be taken relating to the Waisman Center Addition and Remodeling project:
(1) approval of an increase in the budget of $400,000 of Gift/Grant Funds,
(2) approval of the Design Report reflecting the budget increase, and
(3) authority to construct the project at the revised estimated total cost of $17,900,000 of Gift/Grant funds.
Resolution 7377: That, upon the recommendation of the UW-Stout Chancellor and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Design Report be approved and authority granted to construct the Applied Arts Remodeling project at a cost of $4,500,000 from WISTAR Funds.
Contractual Agreement with Heska Corporation
Resolution 7378: That, upon recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System and the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin‑Madison, the Board of Regents approves this contractual agreement entitled “Equine Influenza Vaccine Safety Test and Challenge Immunity Study” that will provide $245,949 in support of the research.
Resolution 7379: That, upon the recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System and the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin‑Madison the bequest of the late Elizabeth C. Davis, a resident of the State of Florida, legal domicile being Manatee County, be accepted; and the Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officers be authorized to sign receipts and do all things necessary to effect the transfer for the benefit of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, wheresoever situate, including the proceeds of any insurance policy or policies payable to my Personal Representative or to my estate in accordance with the following:
K. TEN PERCENT (10%) to THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, located at Madison, Wisconsin.)
(Elizabeth C. Davis was a 1932 graduate in Physical Education. The University will receive approximately $260,000.)
1997-98 General Compensation Distribution Plan and Guidelines
Resolution 7380: That, upon the recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the 1997-98 General Distribution Plan and Guidelines (Exhibit A) be approved. If changes are required to the guidelines as a result of actions by either the Joint Committee on Employment Relations or legislation, the Executive Committee, in consultation with the System President, is authorized to act on these changes.
Request to Approve New Category A Academic Staff Titles
Resolution 7381: That, upon the recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Board of Regents authorizes the President of the System to seek approval to create Information Technology Strategic Consultant and Information Technology Architect title series in the Category A academic staff title and salary grade structure from the Secretary of the Department of Employment Relations.
-
Approval of the minutes of the December 5, 1996 meeting of the Business and Finance Committee
Regent Hempel reported that the minutes of the December 5, 1996, meeting of the Committee had been approved by the committee.
-
Observing that the previous day’s meeting had been the first for the new Senior Vice President for Finance, Regent Hempel noted that she had also provided her first report to the committee, which was a gap-basis review of the Annual Financial Report. This report reflected some of the financial challenges the UW System will face in the coming years. For example, in 1995-96, State appropriations provided 33% of the current operating funds (compared with 39% in 1985-86), while the proportion of current operating cost covered by students fees increased only slightly (from 17% to 18%) over the same 10-year period. Regent Hempel reported that the System has responded by identifying alternate sources of revenues and by employing efficiencies to reduce costs. She also noted that, responding to a discussion of student loan write-offs, the staff was asked to provide more information about the way loans and defaults are measured; they were also asked to include those figures on the balance sheet, and to trace the way that defaulted loans are dealt with over time.
-
UW-Madison: Annual Report On Research Support
Dean Virginia Hinshaw (UW-Madison Graduate School) provided the committee with the annual report on research support at UW-Madison. She reported that, compared with last year, total year-to-date extramural research awards have increased significantly, despite fewer faculty and staff, which indicates that they are doing exceptionally well at obtaining grants in a very competitive market.
-
Report of the Senior Vice President for Finance
The committee was informed by Senior Vice President Bromberg that, System-wide, gifts, grants and contracts for the seven-month period ended January 17, 1997, were at $381 million, an increase of also $32 million from the previous year with the majority of that in non-federal awards.
*
Update: Student Fee Refund Policy (Southworth, et al. vs. Grebe. et al.)
Vice President Bromberg noted that at the December meeting, the Board had voted to appeal the court’s ruling on the requirement for students to pay segregated fees to support student organizations with whose purpose they disagree. The Board directed staff to consider how segregated fees would be administered should the appeal be unsuccessful. Regent Hempel reported that President Lyall is appointing a working group to review various models for fee allocation and to recommend an approach for UW institutions to use should the appeal fail. That group will consist of three campus budget officers, three student affairs personnel and four students; appropriate System staff will also work with the group.
-
Vice President Bromberg had advised the committee that a bill may be introduced at the state level to offer TIAA-CREF as an optional retirement benefit for faculty and academic staff. This would be as an alternative to the state pension system.
*
Vice President Bromberg also provided a brief budget update indicating the UW expects to get some state funding for technology, and advised the Committee of upcoming Legislative Committee meetings.
-
Vice President Bromberg provided an estimated time line for the Search for Investment Managers, which will be needed because the contracts with the existing Investment Managers will run their course during the autumn of 1997. Regent Hempel noted that the committee has appointed an evaluation team to look at the possibility of appointing new investment managers. Participants on the evaluation team will include two to three Regents, two UW System administrators (the trust officer and assistant trust officer), a professor in the investment area and an investment director from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board.
-
Regent Hempel concluded her remarks by observing that the committee had adjourned to closed session to consider trust fund matters and the negotiation of a lease term UW‑Madison, as permitted by s. 19.85(1)(e), Wis. Stats.
- - -
REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The committee chair, Regent Krutsch, began her report by introducing Resolutions 7382 - 7389, which had been approved by the Education Committee. She moved their adoption as a Consent Agenda; her motion was seconded by Regent MacNeil, and passed unanimously.
University of Wisconsin System 1996-97 Report on Remedial Education
Resolution 7382: That, upon recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Board of Regents accepts the 1996-97 Report on Remedial Education in the UW System, and changes the reporting period for the report from an annual basis to once every three years. The rationale for this change in the reporting period is twofold: (1) the number of students needing remediation has steadily declined during the five-year reporting period; and (2) information about the kinds of students needing remediation changes very little from year to year.
UW-Madison: Authorization to recruit: Dean, Law School
Resolution 7383: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Chancellor be authorized to recruit for a Dean of the Law School, at a salary exceeding the Executive Salary Group Six maximum.
UW-Superior: Authorization to recruit: Provost and Vice Chancellor
Resolution 7384: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Chancellor be authorized to recruit for a Provost and Vice Chancellor, at a salary that may exceed the Executive Salary Group Six maximum.
UW-Madison, School of Business Revised Authorization to recruit: Associate Professor or Professor
Resolution 7385: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Chancellor be authorized to recruit for an Associate Professor or Professor of Business at a revised salary that may exceed the Executive Salary Group Six maximum.
Resolution 7386: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Chancellor be authorized to recruit for an Associate Professor or Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical School, at a salary that exceeds the Executive Salary Group Six maximum.
UW-Milwaukee: Distinguished Professor
Resolution 7387: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin‑Milwaukee and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, Professor Patricia Mellencamp, Department of Art History, College of Letters and Science, UW-Milwaukee, be appointed a Distinguished Professor, Art History, effective immediately.
UW-Stout: Naming to an endowed Chair
Resolution 7388: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin‑Stout and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, Professor Charles Krueger, Communications, Education and Training Department, College of Technology, Engineering and Management, be named to the Frank and Ann Cervenka endowed chair of Manufacturing Leadership, effective immediately.
UW-Madison: Appointment of Named Professors
Resolution 7389: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Chancellor be authorized to make the following named professorship appointments:
Thomas F. Kuech Milton J. and A. Maude Shoemaker Professor of Chemical Engineering (effective immediately);
Javier Calderon Emily Mead Baldwin Bell-Bascom Professor in the Arts (effective July 1, 1997);
Thomas Loeser Emily Mead Baldwin Bell-Bascom Professor in the Arts (effective July 1, 1997);
J. J. Murphy Emily Mead Baldwin Bell-Bascom Professor in the Arts (effective July 1, 1997).
-
General Education Programs: UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls
Regent Krutsch reported the Education Committee heard a report on General Education programs, and representatives of UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls had reported on their respective programs. UW-Whitewater’s program includes six core courses that are required of all students -- this innovation addresses important outcomes by designing core courses around those outcomes, in addition to ensuring that students are proficient in a variety of skills including writing, speaking, quantitative reasoning, computer information literacy. The program also promotes base knowledge that all educated persons should possess. UW-River Falls’ current General Education program has been in place since 1990 and comprises one-third of the university’s curriculum. Goals are assessed using a Matrix that includes seven different types of measurement for the eighteen different objectives found in the program. Committee members raised a number of questions about the general education. They were concerned about the adequacy of writing and other communication requirements; the adequacy of math requirements; and whether students could graduate without having taken courses in American history and politics. The concerns were addressed in a variety of ways by the presenters: writing proficiency would be assured by having student fulfill a basic composition requirement in addition to meeting other requirements in writing intensive courses; math requirements were thought to be met by a required course in mathematics -- however, Regent Lubar and others had expressed concern about increasing the level of mathematical literacy; it was also determined that, given the choices offered students, it was possible for students to graduate without courses in American history and politics, an issue which might need to be evaluated in light of institutional goals regarding cultural heritage and UW System’s evaluation of whether those goals are, indeed, necessary and being met. She added that this discussion concluded with the committee’s proposal that UW System Administration develop a summary of the general education requirements available across the System. This would be easily understood by the general public and would include such items as the philosophies, goals, credits and requirements for all UW System general education programs.
-
Excess Credits Reduction working group: Report on progress in developing implementation plan
Regent Krutsch reported that the 21st Century Implementation Committee’s Excess Credits Working Group had presented its final report at the joint meeting. The group has developed a plan that will be submitted to Senior Vice President Ward for use if the board should decide in the future that a tuition surcharge needs to be implemented. The plan includes a credit limit or threshold at which any surcharge would be triggered (Regent Krutsch noted that the group had recommended a 150 credit trigger, reduced from the original recommendation of 162 credits); a recommended tuition surcharge of 50 percent above the current tuition; and a potential implementation date for Fall Semester, 2001.
Regent Krutsch reported that committee members had raised a number of questions about the proposal and, after extensive discussion, agreed that further research will need to be done. In particular, Regent Boyle had asked whether the specific courses students take in excess do, indeed, reduce access for other students, while Regent Brandes was concerned that if a student returned for a degree later, they might trigger the limit. The committee’s consensus was that, prior to instituting any excess credit penalties, they would wait to see if other mechanisms that have been put into effect to reduce credits to degree have their desired effect. In discussion following Regent Krutsch’s report, Regent Smith asked whether other initiatives were still in place to reduce the credit load by 3%; informing him that these are still in place, Regent Krutsch added that the average number of credits completed by students who graduate is well below the proposed “trigger” amount.
-
Report of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Early Math Placement Testing Program
Senior Vice President Ward had reported to the committee that the Early Math Placement Testing (EMPT) program, which improves students readiness for college level mathematics, has received an enthusiastic response. Approximately 15,000 students are expected to be registered by March 1997. EMPT continues to be self-funded, and the generation and collection of fees continues to be a problem; however, the program’s proponents are hopeful that the governor or a state agency will request funding as a regular part of state GPR.
*
1996-97 Report on Remedial Education
Senior Vice President Ward also presented the 1996-97 Report on Remedial Education in the UW System, which shows that between Fall 1990 and Fall 1995, the percentage of new freshmen needing English remediation fell from 10.1 to 6.8 percent, while the percentage of students needing mathematics remediation fell from 20.6 to 12.7 percent. The Committee, as it accepted the report, suggested that campuses should be more proactive in developing programs to assist promising students who enroll with an ACT score of less than eighteen or who graduated in the bottom half of their class.
-
New program authorization: B.S., Service Management, UW-Stout
Regent Krutsch reported that the committee had reviewed a proposed B.S. in Service Management, UW-Stout, which will be on the March 1997 agenda for final consideration.
-
North Central Accreditation Report, UW-Whitewater
Chancellor Gaylon Greenhill reported on the UW-Whitewater North Central Accreditation review. On October 17, 1996, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Institutions of Higher Education voted to continue the accreditation of UW-Whitewater for the maximum ten year period. The university’s next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for 2005-06.
-
Draft Statement on Learning Outcomes for the Baccalaureate Degree
Regent Krutsch concluded her report by noting that the committee had also discussed a draft of proposed learning outcomes for the baccalaureate degree. Panelists from UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Madison and UW-Whitewater responded to the proposal in the context of their respective institutional programs. Among items discussed were the role of faculty in maintaining curriculum quality and the importance of adequate means for assessing of program goals.
During the discussion following the panel presentation, Regent Grebe noted that the Board’s responsibility in this area is twofold. The Board must not only advocate for the needs of the university with the larger population, but it also must communicate the interests and needs of the larger population to the university community. He noted that, while it is mindful of the faculty’s primacy in matters curricular, he emphasized that the Board should be also concerned with curriculum. Regent Brandes stressed the need for Board members to hear from faculty more frequently about their methods and objectives in developing the curriculum. Chancellor Tom George (UW-Stevens Point) suggested that Board reviews of institutions’ general education programs might be performed just before campuses were readying themselves for their decennial accreditation reviews.
Taking into account faculty prerogatives for curriculum development, as well as the Board’s responsibility and accountability for overall quality, the committee will develop some criteria by which to evaluate general education programs. The criteria will be based in large part upon on purposes and goals that have already been developed by faculty.
- - -
21st CENTURY IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
Progress Report: The “3-Plus” Group
Regent Steil, Vice Chair, provided the report. He began by noting that the committee had reviewed a presentation on the “3+2 / 3+4” programs. The first two presenters, Assistant Vice President Nathan Peters and Dean Dion Kempthorne (UWC-Richland) reported on the progress of the “3+2/3+4” working group and the development of the pilot project involving UWC-Richland. The development of high school to college transition programs illustrates the UW System’s commitment to two goals of the 21st Century Study: enhancing access and maintaining affordability. Nine distinct high school transition programs allow high school students to earn dual credit at UW System institutions, where they have the opportunity to pursue advanced coursework. Concerns about these programs include whether high school students can balance the rigors of college work with the positive social aspects of the senior year of high school. The working group advises that new programs should focus on community educational needs and foster collaboration between the UW System and school districts. Future programs may include alternative scheduling, summer sessions, and distance education. Dean Kempthorne reported on the development of the Academic Alliance pilot project involving the UWC-Richland and two area high schools, Richland Center and Ithaca. Strong local interest in the program is being expressed, and the option of offering college courses at the high school through distance education or other means is being explored.
-
Instructional Academic Staff Study
Senior Vice President Keith Sanders and Cathy Middlecamp (UW-Madison Director of the Chemistry Learning Center) presented the charge and parameters of the Instructional Academic Staff Study, which was based on consultation with the Study working group. They emphasized that the primary objective of this study is to make recommendations that, if implemented, would utilize to the fullest extent possible the talents of teaching academic staff in the UW System. They said that particular attention will be paid to changes made since the 1983 Academic Staff Review, as well as to the role of teaching academic staff in curricular decision-making, professional development opportunities, and whether there are clear performance expectations and processes for performance evaluation.
-
Report on Status of All Other Study Implementation Efforts
Regent Steil concluded his report by stating that Associate Vice President Kathi Sell had reported on the status of all other efforts to implement the recommendations of the Board of Regents Study of the UW System in the 21st Century. She pointed out that many of the recommendations are dependent on legislative budget or statutory language action. In his summary, Regent Steil noted that efforts are underway to address all of the recommendations with the exception of the review of the Board’s policy on Competition with the Private Sector (which will be addressed in Fall 1997) and a request for institutional autonomy from a pilot institution.
- - -
UNFINISHED OR ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Regent Grebe noted that the retirement of Vice President for Finance Ray Marnocha had left the Board in need of a Trust Officer. Regent Hempel nominated Marcia Bromberg, the current Vice President for Finance, for the position. Her nomination was seconded by Regent Boyle, and carried unanimously.
- - -
At 9:35 a.m., Regent Lubar made a motion to approve Resolution 7390. His motion was seconded by Regent Krutsch and was approved on a roll-call vote, with Regents Boyle, Brandes, Brown, DeSimone, Grebe, Hempel, Krutsch, Lubar, MacNeil, Smith, and Steil (11) voting in the affirmative.
Resolution 7390: That the Board of Regents recess into closed session to consider honorary degree nominations at UW-Superior, UW-Parkside, and UW-Milwaukee as permitted by s.19.85(1)(f), Wis. Stats., to consider personnel matters, as permitted by s.19.85(1)(c) Wis. Stats., including approval of interim salary and interim appointment, UW-Extension; interim salary, UW-Stevens Point; and approval of salary adjustments, UW-Madison; to consider negotiation of lease of space, UW-Madison, as permitted by s.19.85(1)(e), Wis. Stats., for competitive purposes; and to confer with legal counsel, as permitted by s.19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats.
- - -
Upon arising from closed session, the Board announced the adoption of Resolutions 7391-7395, which had been adopted during the session.
Resolution 7391: That, upon the recommendation of Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the Board of Regents approves awarding of the following honorary degree by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, subject to acceptance by the nominee:
Norman Graebner: Doctor of Humane Letters
UW-Stevens Point: Approval of Starting Salary: Interim Vice Chancellor
Resolution 7392: That, upon recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the salary of William H. Meyer be set at an annual rate of $98,000, effective immediately, for the period of his appointment as Interim Vice Chancellor, UW-Stevens Point.
Resolution 7393: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the following temporary base salary adjustment, resulting in a salary above the Executive Salary Group Six maximum, be approved, effective Semester II, 1996-97:
Thomas Kuech, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director for NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, to C$103,159.
Resolution 7394: That, upon recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the following base salary adjustment, resulting in a salary above the Executive Salary Group Six maximum, be approved, effective February 1, 1997:
David I. Watkins, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, to A$125,000.
UW-Extension: Request to Approve the Appointment and Salary for the Interim Chancellor
Resolution 7395: That, upon the recommendation of the President of the University of Wisconsin System, Albert J. Beaver be appointed Interim Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, at an annual salary rate of $110,000 effective immediately, for the period of his appointment.
-
At this time, the Board is also announcing the adoption of the following resolution, which had been approved at the November 8, 1996 meeting of the Board of Regents. Announcement of its approval was delayed pending acceptance by the nominees.
Resolution 7396: That, upon the recommendation of the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, the following honorary degrees be awarded by UW-Madison, subject to acceptance by the nominees:
Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Doctor of Law
Sam Gilliam, Doctor of Fine Arts
Jean Johnson, Doctor of Science
Donald E. Osterbrock, Doctor of Science
Charles E. Rosenberg, Doctor of Human Letters
Gilbert Stork, Doctor of Science
The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
Submitted by:
/s/ Jane S. Radue
Jane S. Radue, Secretary of the Board