1. Call to Order - Dean Richard Meadows called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. in CRT 175.
   1. Announcements - Dean Meadows discussed the recent action of JOCER on the pay plan. He noted that the committee had recommended a 2% increase retroactive to July 1, 2007, a 2% increase on July 1, 2008, and an additional 1% increase on April 1, 2009. While this is disappointing, it may not be the end result. The message from President Reilly noted that the Regents' plan was for a 5.3% increase, with 4% of that coming from the State, which suggests that the Regents' planned for 1.3% to come from tuition revenues. There is a long-standing tradition of the Regents adding to the State's pay plan, and that may happen with the current plan. If so, the additional funding must come from tuition. There is a split on the Board concerning increasing tuition. We likely will have more information about the Board's position after the Regents' meeting on December 7.

      The Academic Planning exercise in which the campus now is engaged is intended to inform a master space planning exercise that is scheduled to start in Spring. The time frame within which the planning groups are expected to develop recommendations is far too short for a sufficiently thorough discussion of issues with extensive input from campus citizens. Three groups have been appointed to make recommendations: Engineering and Basic Sciences, Health Sciences, and Kenwood/Columbia, which is being renamed Liberal Arts and Professions. The latter group, of which Dean Meadows is a member, met yesterday and focused on how a survey of the campus will be conducted. It appears that the survey will not be sent to individual faculty members but to chairs and directors of departments and centers. Additionally, there is considerable debate about the content of the survey.

      The approved State budget includes funding for UWM's DIN, which will provide long-term support for RGI, teaching assistant stipends, research clusters, and undergraduate research. The research clusters targeted in the first round of DIN funding include neurobiology, biomedical engineering, advanced manufacturing, public health, fresh water, and informatics. The undergraduate research initiative includes funding fifteen new faculty positions to spur undergraduate research on campus. The campus is reactivating its pursuit of faculty hires under the funding provided for WIBHT, which was kicked off two-and-one-half years ago. The current DIN is meant to be the first of three $10,000,000 increments. Dean Meadows indicated that he hoped that second and third rounds would encompass more broadly-based initiatives.

      Dean Meadows reported that the campus now has outgrown the arena as a place for commencement. Last year, we had an overflow of 3000 people. The plan currently under discussion is to hold commencement for half of campus in the morning and the other half in the afternoon.

   2. Question Period (10 minutes maximum) - Robert Schwartz stated that the planning exercise does not seem to have much to do with academic planning. Rather, it appears that a lot of discussion in the planning groups is about putting up a building and then deciding what to put there. Committee activities do not seem to involve much input from high-level researchers/scholars. Dean Meadows replied that he has been trying to emphasize that the planning exercise should be an opportunity to have a meaningful debate about the kind of institution we want to be. Robert Schwartz asked if there was something the faculty could do to support this position. Dean Meadows indicated that this would be an appropriate topic of discussion for the Faculty Senate. Jack Johnson indicated that the December Faculty Senate meeting has been cancelled, but there is some discussion of reinstating it. Dean Meadows noted that there is a rush to get something done so that we have a document to hand the master planners when they arrive in the Spring. The committees are hoping to get ideas through the questionnaire, which will ask units where they want to be in 5 and 10 years and what they need to get there. Dean Meadows indicated that he feels we should take the time we need to have the kind of discussion that will result in a more meaningful long-term plan, rather than rushing to get something in writing by February 15. Margo Anderson said that there does not seem to be a conceptual basis for the planning exercise and that there also seems to be a considerable amount of faculty backlash. Dean Meadows responded that if we want this to be meaningful, we must engage the faculty, and this will take time. Jay Moore noted that a considerable amount of planning had been done years ago in the context of The Milwaukee Idea. Numerous proposals were developed that have not been pursued. He asked if those proposals would be revisited during this planning process. Dean Meadows suggested that departments revisit those proposals that they feel are worthwhile. Planning should involve trying to conceive of the entire institution in the future. This cannot be done if we focus only on research and on improving the success of a small number of students.
2. Automatic Consent Business - There were no objections to the Automatic Consent Business. The following items stand approved.

   A.	Approval of Minutes #3, 2006-2007 (March 29, 2006) (on web at www.uwm.edu/letsci/committees/)
   B.	Recommendation for Consideration of Candidates for Degrees and Honors for December, 2007		758
   C.	Annual Reports
   	L&S Academic Planning and Governance Committee Annual Report, 2006-2007		759
   	L&S Academic Policies and Curriculum Committee Annual Report		760
   	Certificate Program in Ancient Mediterranean Studies Annual Report, 2006-2007		761
   	Certificate Program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies Annual Report, 2006-2007		762
   	Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Annual Report, 2006-2007		763
   	International Studies Major Annual Report, 2006-2007		764
   	Asian Studies Certificate Program: Report (2004-2007) and Recommendations		765
   D.	Reaffirm Approval of Motion to Recommend Acceptance of the Spanish M.A. Implementation Plan		730 addendum

3. Old Business - none
4. New Business

   A.	Recommendation to Create a Scandinavian Studies Curricular Area Code - It was moved and seconded to recommend to the Dean approval of a Scandinavian Studies curricular area code. Margo Anderson asked if the area would have its own budget code. Connie Jo responded that it would not; as with the other areas in FLL, it would fall under the FLL budget code. Margo asked why there could not be a single curricular code for all of these types of curricular areas. Dean Meadows indicated that it is useful for the College to be able to look at what is going on with various programs in terms of enrollment, interest, etc., and the existence of a separate curricular code facilitates this effort. Connie Jo added that it is very difficult for students to find courses like Swedish; they do not realize they need to look under "German" for those classes. Chuck Schuster asked if it was the case that the only thing that changes with the approval of a new curricular code is the location of the courses in the Schedule of Classes. Connie indicated that was so. The motion was approved.		766
   B.	Recommendation to Create a Religious Studies Curricular Area Code - It was moved and seconded to recommend to the Dean approval of a Religious Studies curricular area code. Merry Wiesner-Hanks discussed the need for a code to be able to offer the interdisciplinary courses that were important to the major. She also noted that the next item of business is a request to change the name of the major to reflect current trends in this field of study. Margaret Atherton indicated that the Philosophy Department, which was among the original participants in the creation of the original major, had not been consulted about these matters. Dean Meadows said that he understood the department had been invited to participate in planning for the major but had declined to do so. Anne Hansen stated that the invitation to participate had been extended in May, 2005. Margaret responded that the department's faculty had indicated it did not intend to seek a faculty member in the area of religious studies at that time, but it nevertheless did not wish to withdraw from participation in the program. Chuck Schuster said that the advisory committee for the program would welcome Philosophy's participation. Robert Schwartz said that Philosophy should have been consulted from the beginning. Gwynne Kennedy asked if the matters before the Faculty at this time could be clarified. Currently, only the curricular area code and name change are on the agenda; the curricular changes being planned are a separate issue. Dean Meadows assured the faculty members from Philosophy that their department will receive an engraved invitation (figuratively, I presume) to participate in discussions of the structure of the major. The motion was approved.		767
   C.	Recommendation to Change the Name of the Comparative Study of Religion Major - It was moved, seconded, and approved to recommend to the Dean that the name of the Comparative Study of Religion major be changed to Religious Studies. Copies of additional documents that Anne Hansen distributed at the meeting are attached to the original of these minutes.		768
   D.	Recommendation to Eliminate the Certificate in Biotechnology - Noting how rare it is for the Faculty to receive a recommendation to eliminate a program, Dean Meadows asked if there was a motion to accept Faculty Document 769. It was moved, seconded, and approved to recommend to the Dean elimination of the Certificate in Biotechnology.		769
   E.	Recommendation to Approve the Implementation Proposal for the Master of Arts in Women's Studies - It was moved and seconded to recommend to the Dean approval of Faculty Document 770. Gwynne Kennedy reported that the request for an entitlement for a Master of Arts in Women's Studies had received the unanimous support of the other campuses in the UW System. Information gathered by the Center for Women's Studies indicated a clear interest in this master's program. She noted that Madison has a master's degree in Women's Studies, but it is designed as a residential, two-year degree; UWM's program aims at a very different clientele. Gwynne stated that there are 250 baccalaureate programs in women's studies. Over sixty institutions have graduate programs, twenty of those approved within the past two years; there are 17 Ph.D. programs. Robert Schwartz asked about the implications of the proposal for faculty positions and funding. Gwynne responded that the Center currently has two shared faculty positions and is in the process of hiring a third. In addition, the document includes plans for two additional positions. She noted that the Center is pursuing establishment of policies that would allow it to organize as a unit with "department-like status," an entity currently employed at Madison, which allows the unit to serve as a tenure home. This would give Women's Studies the authority to hire, independently of another unit, the individuals best suited to serve the program's goals. Dean Meadows stated that he applauds the efforts of the Center in pursuing the establishment of "department-like status." The motion was approved.		770
   F.	Report and Recommendation concerning the proposal to disallow sport and recreation credits in the L&S Degree. It was moved and seconded to recommend to the Dean acceptance of Faculty Document 771. Jeffrey Oxford reported that the AP&CC had been directed by the Faculty to develop a strong, well-rationalized proposal to eliminate sport and recreation courses from the credits that can count toward a degree from L&S. After looking at statistics on the number of students impacted by this issue as well as the extent to which it is an issue, the committee members agreed that the loss of good will was not worth resolving an issue that affected a small number of students. Tom O'Bryan indicated that he had looked at a cadre of L&S graduates to see how many would have graduated with fewer than 120 credits if sport and recreation credits had been eliminated and only a very small percent of students were affected. Someone asked if the Provost had given a reason for not supporting the College's recommendation. Connie Jo stated that she did not give a particular reason but asked the College to reconsider its recommendation. Tom said that the Provost did not veto the L&S proposal to disallow Sport and Recreation courses; the APCC forwarded the L&S proposal without the Sport and Recreation provision. Connie noted that the Provost had indicated that she would not override the APCC recommendation on that provision and suggested that the L&S Faculty reconsider it. Margo Anderson asked what impact on GPA the sport and recreation credits had. Connie indicated that students are limited to counting no more than 6 credits of sport and recreation toward the 120 credits required for the degree. Chuck Schuster reported that the debate over this issue at the APCC meetings was ugly; the College's recommendation was not greeted well by any of the other schools and colleges. The motion was approved.		771

5. Adjournment (no later than 5:00 p.m.) - Dean Meadows asked if there were any other matters to be discussed for the good and welfare of the Faculty. Margo Anderson asked if there was any way for the Faculty to assist the Dean in getting the planning process slowed down. She noted that the College does not seem to be on anyone's radar screen. Dean Meadows indicated that he did not think this was true. We have good support from the Chancellor and legislature, and it is clear we will continue to grow. However, the Chancellor is in a position to have to explain to donors what the university wants to be if he hopes to attract funds. It puts him in a position to have to emphasize what is new. Much of our development is constrained by a lack of space, which explains why space is driving the planning process. We cannot move forward until we have the space to do what new initiatives require. Margo Anderson again emphasized the need to slow down the planning process. Dean Meadows said that he thinks there is some question about the master planners actually arriving in March. Robert Schwartz said that discussion of growing our research does not include the humanities. Dean Meadows said that the Chancellor says that increasing our funded research will spill over to allow more funds for the humanities and social sciences. Margo noted that we could get outside funding for the social sciences if we had the space we needed to support funded projects. She said that there is a considerable amount of funding available in social science areas.

   Dean Meadows noted that the planning groups are talking about dormitory space and the overall physical plant. He said that the Chancellor wants enough dorm space for the entire freshman class. The Columbia Hospital property would provide space for 1000 students. There also is talk of building another dorm across the river from the new dorm being opened on North Avenue. Dean Meadows said that we could have 4500 beds within a short time. He mentioned that enabling this to happen would require resolution of problems with UWM's neighbors. Jay Moore said that he still is concerned about the growing student body and the fact that we are addressing growth primarily with ad hoc instructors, which does not help our standing as an institution of quality. Dean Meadows commented that the College provides 60% of instruction in the first two years. We are an open-enrollment campus. For the past five years, the student body has grown 16% but the College's faculty FTE has remained constant. We are "tuition junkies," and unless the funding formula changes, this pattern will continue. Jay added that there will be pressure to increase class sizes that will create serious tensions. Dean Meadows said that the fundamental issue is to define the kind of campus we want to be. Unfortunately, we cannot get additional state support for what we do, only for new initiatives. Jack Johnson said that this is a national trend and added that UWM's GPR support has eroded so much that it resembles that of a small college. The faculty is telling campus administration that we need more time to plan, especially to discuss who will teach our courses and what kind of institution we want to be. Margo stated that the Chancellor knows he needs to change the funding formula and indicated that it is our job to provide him with the ammunition he needs to do that.

   The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Connie Jo, Assistant Dean
Secretary to the L&S Faculty