PRESENT: David Beran, Hal Bertilson, Glenn Carlson, Timothy Cummings, Jim Grittner, Greg Moore, Peter Nordgren, Thomas Notton, Cecilia Schrenker, Joel Sipress, Nicholas Sloboda, Priscilla Starratt, Greg Trudeau, Richard Walker, Michael Wallschlaeger, Julius Erlenbach, Rosemary Keefe, Michael Ball, Ronald Harshman, Stephanie Hilton, Randy Gabrys-Alexson, Shannon Janechi, and Kirsten DeHart,

ABSENT: James Holter.

EXCUSED: None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion (T. Cummings/R. Walker) to approve the Faculty Senate minutes of September 18, 2001 and receive the September 11 and October 2 minutes from the Executive Committee passed.

REPORT OF THE CHANCELLOR--Julius Erlenbach. Chancellor reported that the Board of Regents approved our new mission statement at its September meeting. Dean Keefe did an excellent job presenting it to the Regents. The Health and Wellness Center groundbreaking occurred last week. Three hundred people attended the wine tasting even and many attended the art shows. The campus is implementing more stringent procedures in the mail room to protect against anthrax. UWSA has had great concern for the security of our mail.

REPORT OF THE PROVOST--Charles Schelin. No report.

REPORT OF THE DEAN OF FACULTIES--Rosemary Keefe. Dean Keefe reported that the chairs are reviewing and evaluating our pre-registration system and looking for a smooth transition into a more paperless system. Ten searches are in progress. Dean Keefe invited everyone to the Dean's colloquia. She provided a schedule for the semester.

REPORTS

Chair--Gregory Trudeau. No report.

Secretary--Hal Bertilson. The Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin in the Matter of the Recommendation for the Dismissal of John Marder, Professor was enclosed with the agenda mailing. This document is a public record which provides background for the tabled "Resolution Regarding Procedures for Termination of Tenured Faculty."

Faculty Representative--Greg Moore. Senator Moore reported from the September 28 Faculty Representative meeting that the pay plan has been approved. It is 3.2% this year and 4.2% next year. This represents a 1% cut from the Regents proposal. GPR has been cut to respond to a declining state economy. This pay plan increase is approximately the average increase nationwide. The pay plan increase is funded chiefly by tuition funding increases. President Lyall will resist funding from tuition in the future. Last year's salary increases were funded entirely by GPR. The UW tuition is lower than tuition in similar regional universities.

Other campuses have resolutions regarding procedures for termination of tenured faculty and are divided on the issue. Some of the campuses are holding off waiting to hear what the opposition to these resolutions has to say.

Planning, Budgeting, and Review Council--Michael Ball. Professor Ball reported that the Human Behavior and Diversity self study is currently being reviewed.

Personnel Council--Michael Wallschlaeger. Professor Wallschlaeger reported for the Personnel Council. They are studying whether we should continue decoupling years for promotion to Associate Professor and tenure.

Academic Affairs Council--Tim Cummings. Professor Cummings sent a letter to the Chancellor to develop an understanding of those Academic Affairs items which will require the Chancellor's review and which may be forwarded directly to the Registrar without Chancellor review.

Graduate Council--Rich Walker. Minutes from Graduate Council meetings have been provided to the Senate Secretary and will appear with the agenda to the November Senate meeting.

Student Senate--Stephanie Hilton. Ms. Hilton reported that 8 of the 11 seats from the elections have been filled. SUFAC will start its process on October 27. Organization recognition is underway. The October 3 press conference supported Assembly Bill 194. Two hundred post cards were sent to Frank Boyle who showed them to his colleagues on the Assembly floor.

Academic Staff Senate--Ron Harshman. No report.

OLD BUSINESS. The "Resolution Regarding Procedures for Termination of Tenured Faculty" was discussed, but remained tabled. A substitute motion will be circulated at the November meeting. J. Sipress pointed out that there are three questions: (a) Are the findings of fact accurate? (b) The issue of due process. This body may not wish to rule on those two questions. (c) The third point is what J. Sipress sees as a great threat and the reason for the substitute resolution. The issue is the legal standard. See page 31, point #2, Just Cause under application of the Safransky standard. This legal precedent was taken from a different state agency and applied to the University. Professor Sipress argues that this precedent is at fundamental odds with academic freedom.

According to Chancellor Erlenbach, this is not the first time this standard was used. He understands that this standard is the Just Cause standard that has been used since the 1970s. He will check that recollection before the November Senate meeting.

The substitute resolution was given to us for review and will be introduced at the November meeting. The Resolution Regarding Standards for Termination of Tenured Faculty resolves that the Board of Regents renounce the Safransky standard.

Stephanie Hilton distributed a resolution from the Student Senate (SS 1001-01 Campus Climate Resolution). The students argue that the issue is one of harassment and discrimination. The resolution calls for a positive campus climate, quality learning environment, and academic freedom for all students.

Professor Wallschlaeger divided the just cause question into substantive just cause versus procedural just cause. Untenured faculty have procedural just cause protection, but when they receive tenure they also have substantive just cause. This is the issue that Professor Sipress is addressing.

Chancellor Erlenbach and Professor Sipress both urged the Faculty Senate and Student Senate to work together in resolving this issue.

NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

Prepared by the Faculty Senate Secretary, Hal Bertilson, December 5, 2001.