Present:	Karen Brucks, Eduardo Douglas, Glen Fredlund, Peter Geissinger, David Heathcote, Joyce Kirk, Pat Kissinger, Michael Liston, Gabrielle Verdier
Excused:	Kris Ruggiero
Guests:	Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska, Connie Jo, Kim Romenesko, Chuck Schuster, Rodney Swain

1. Call to Order - The Chair, Glen Fredlund, called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. in Holton 241.
2. Special Order of Business: Discussion with Associate Deans - Each associate dean outlined priorities for hiring for Fall 2008.

   Natural Sciences -- Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska
   Associate Dean G-J distributed a list of hiring priorities. (A copy is attached to the original of these minutes.) The following priorities for Fall, 2008 were indicated:

   • Mathematical Science (Actuarial Science, Northwest Mutual gift). The 2006-2007 search for this position failed. The position remains the department's #1 priority.
   • Chemistry (Analytical Chemistry). This position will be necessary only if the search in progress fails. If that happens, this position remains the department's top priority. The position also was among last year's top four priorities.
   • Geosciences (Glacial/Quaternary Geologist). This is the department's top priority. This position was identified in last year's rankings as high priority for 2007. It is especially important in light of reactivating the department's Ph.D. program. In addition, Geosciences did not get to do their regular search this year.
   • Biological Sciences (Evolutionary Population Geneticist). This position was the department's top priority two years ago, but the department was not able to launch a search. It would fill a critical need in the department and remains the #1 priority.
   • Physics (Experimental Optics). This position is the department's top priority. If the current in-progress search for an Experimental Biophysics position fails, and if there are enough positions available to get this far down the list, then the Physics department probably will recruit in both Biophysics and Optics, selecting the best candidate from among the entire group.

   The following five additional needs were identified:

   • Biological Sciences (Molecular Environmental Physiologist). This is Donna Van Wynsberghe's position, which has been vacant for many years.
   • Chemistry (Chemistry Education Research/Director of General Chemistry). UWM has a national reputation in chemistry education.
   • Geosciences (Geochemist). This position is critical for the reactivated Ph.D.
   • Mathematical Sciences (Applied/Computational Mathematics). This position is not a higher priority because math had a successful search this year that resulted in a spousal hire.
   • Physics. See the above note concerning the physics optics position. This search would be for whichever position is not filled in the first search.

   Dave Heathcote stated that the amount of spousal hiring makes it appear that we aren't following a plan and that we need to acknowledge this as a problem.

   Humanities - Chuck Schuster
   Associate Dean Schuster indicated that he focused on the following three themes when setting his priorities: impact on the Ph.D. array, curricular integrity, and undergraduate demand. He set the following priorities for Fall, 2008:

   • Art History (Specialization in Post-1970 Art). There is a critical need to fill the position vacated by Melanie Mariño. Because this department is small, the loss of this position has been felt acutely by the department.
   • Communication (Health or Intercultural Communication). This position is especially important because the Ph.D. is moving forward. In addition, the department's courses are running at 98% capacity.
   • Philosophy (Political Philosophy or Metaphysics/Epistemology). There is a great need for positions in this department, particularly because there have been three faculty losses in the past two years, and only one of those positions has been filled.
   • Film Studies (History and Culture) or English (Creative Writing-Fiction). There's a huge student demand in film studies. The position could be in Art History, English, or another department. English had two hires in poetry this year, but the department needs a fiction writer.
   • Foreign Languages and Linguistics (Japanese Linguistics). The demand in Japanese continues to grow.

   The following additional needs were identified:

   • Communication (Intercultural or Health Communication)
   • Philosophy (Metaphysics/Epistemology or Political Philosophy)
   • FICL (Italian)
   • Portuguese may have an individual leaving.

   Associate Dean Schuster indicated the he would prepare a written list of priorities for the committee. (He delivered it later in the meeting; a copy is attached to the original of these minutes.) Michael Liston expressed concern that strong departments might suffer in an effort to start new programs. Associate Dean Schuster agreed that we must remain cognizant of that possibility, but he also noted that campus priorities sometimes dictate hiring.

   Social Sciences - Rodney Swain
   Associate Dean Swain stated that all position requests received are reasonable. He prioritized by areas of critical need, that is those areas that have experienced the greatest amount of loss. He identified the following priorities Fall, 2008:

   • Women's Studies (Feminist theory/methodology) - A position for which Women's Studies and Political Science recruited jointly ended up going entirely to Political Science because of disagreement about the best candidate. In light of this, the College has promised Women's Studies a position for the coming year. The partner department will be open.
   • Psychology (Neuroscience). As part of a counter-offer, the College agreed to open a position in neuroscience. The two departments hit hardest by loss are Geography and Sociology. Necessary repair work favors hiring two individuals in each of these departments, and these four hires are Associate Dean Swain's top priorities beyond the above two promised positions.
   • Geography (Urban Physical Geography; Economic Geography). Geography lost two junior faculty members (Heynan and Dresner) critical to the department's development. The department made two important hires (one spousal) this year, but these individuals were not in Heynan's and Dresner's areas of expertise. In addition, another loss is likely.
   • Sociology (Quantitative Methodologist; Public Health). Sociology has lost nine lines since 2003. The department is developing a doctoral program. Outside reviewers indicated that morale in the department is low, and the academic programs are suffering as a result.

   The following additional needs were identified:

   • Political Science (Political Research Methodology)
   • Anthropology (Biological Anthropologist-Human Biology)
   • Journalism and Mass Communication (International Media)
   • Economics (Development Economics)
   • Psychology (Clinical Psychologist-Emotion)
   • Political Science (Comparative Government)
   • Africology (Political Economist)
   • History (South Asian History)

   Eduardo Douglas asked about the museum studies hire that was one of the Anthropology Department's top priorities last year. Associate Dean Swain indicated that the department had two hires this year - one target-of-opportunity hire and a spousal hire - and that one of these individuals may be able to contribute to the museum studies program. Therefore, that need was not felt as critically as it was last year.

   Associate Dean Swain stated that, because of spousal and target-of-opportunity hires, it is likely we will hire fourteen faculty members in the social sciences for Fall 2007 as the result of just four searches. There was a discussion about the relatively large number of hires over the past couple of years that have not been part of the recruitment planning process. Committee members wondered if there would be more "planned" positions available if fewer of these "unplanned" positions were hired. Associate Dean Gajdardziska-Josifovska said that more lines may be available if fewer spousal hires were done, but it would be difficult to get new faculty to come to UWM. Members also expressed concern about the fact that spousal and target of opportunity hires occur without the usual vetting process. Some members felt that some method of review beyond the department would be beneficial.

   Joyce Kirk indicated that Bart Armah of the Africology Department probably will not be returning. That department also is working on a Ph.D. program for which a political economist who focuses on the U.S. is essential. Currently, the department has one political economist with a focus on Africa.

   Members thanked the associate deans for taking time to attend the meeting.

3. Procedural Matters
   1. Election of Chair for 2007-2008-Peter Geissinger was elected enthusiastically and unanimously. As mandated by policy, the outgoing chair, Glen Fredlund will serve as the Vice Chair next year.
   2. Election of Additional GFC Representative - Connie Jo reported that the restructuring of the Graduate School's committees has resulted in the reorganization of the Graduate Faculty Council with an increase in membership. L&S needs to elect two additional members for next year. There were not enough candidates in the last election to fill those positions. After some discussion, the following steps to elect two individuals were identified:
      • Send an email message to faculty members asking for (self-) nominations by next week Tuesday;
      • Review the list of interested individuals at a AP&GC meeting next Wednesday and prepare a slate of nominees;
      • Ask the faculty for any additional nominees;
      • Prepare a method, preferably online, whereby faculty members can vote, with a week after the beginning of the contract period set as the deadline;
      • Determine winners and report to the faculty and the Graduate School.
4. Automatic Consent
   1. Approval of Minutes #5 (March 7, 2007) - There were no objections to the minutes of the previous meeting; they stand approved.
5. Old Business
   1. SSEA Evaluation of Administrators - Glen asked if anyone had questions about the evaluations. Because many committee members had to leave, this item will be included in the agenda of the next meeting.
   2. Dave Heathcote reported on the Senate meeting discussion of the "distinguished professors" recommendation. The current distinguished professors were invited to attend the meeting. They noted that they expanded their ranks this year and spoke against a more transparent selection process. University Committee Chair, Jack Johnson, indicated that the codification committee had some problems with this matter. It did not appear that the University Committee had focused on the AP&GC recommendation that new distinguished professor categories be established. AP&GC members agreed to continue discussion of this matter next year.
6. New Business
   1. Position Requests for New Faculty in 2007-2008 - Three subcommittees were formed (natural science, humanities, social science); it was agreed that the subcommittees would bring their recruitment rankings to the next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 16th at 1:00 p.m.
7. Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 3:08 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Assistant Dean Connie Jo
Secretary to the L&S Faculty

 

Distribution: Dean G. Richard Meadows
Associate Deans Gajdardziska-Josifovska, O'Bryan, Schuster, Swain
Assistant Deans Horstman, Jo
Secretary of the University

Minutes #6, 2006-07.apgc