MADISON – The University of Wisconsin System presented the Board of Regents with a proposal to require all UW institutions to document in personnel files instances of sexual violence and sexual harassment perpetrated by employees and to share that information with other employers, including System institutions and other State of Wisconsin agencies, during the hiring process.
The System proposal also calls for the disclosure of substantiated instances of sexual violence and harassment from prospective employers.
- See the UW System Aug. 21 news release
“It’s a tremendous step forward,” Regent Tracey Klein said of the proposed policy. “I like that we’re going to be consistent across the System.”
“It’s cutting edge and I think the other systems are looking at us in Wisconsin, leading the charge,” said Regent President John Robert Behling.
The draft policy presented to the Board will ensure consistent disclosure of cases of sexual violence and sexual harassment to hiring institutions and ensure that institutions ask about sexual violence and sexual harassment during the hiring process, according to UW System General Counsel Quinn Williams.
“This is a significant employee and student safety issue,” Williams said.
Further, the draft policy standardizes the content of personnel files, defines when and with whom personnel files are shared, and ensures appropriate documentation of sexual violence and sexual harassment in personnel files. The policy does not require inclusion of investigatory records in a personnel file.
The policy will undergo wider review over the coming months with shared governance groups and others on campuses across the System in anticipation of implementation in January 2019.
Williams said other systems and universities are confronting the same issue. “This is an issue everyone is wrestling with now and in real time,” he said.
Regent Mike Jones applauded the proposal. “We need to step up and stop the vicious cycle of passing the harasser from one institution to another,” Jones said.
Regent Robert Atwell urged his colleagues to make sure the policy applies to campus leaders and senior employees.
“It can’t apply to the little people and not to the big,” Atwell said.
- See UW System PowerPoint, “Personnel File and Reference Check Policy”
Restructuring Update
Interim Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Karen Schmitt and Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Educational Innovation Carleen Vande Zande provided the Board with an update on restructuring-related items.
- See UW System news release on re-naming two-year campuses
- See UW System video of Chancellor welcomes from receiving institutions
“The purpose of this merger was not primarily to save money although I believe it will happen,” said President Cross. “Our purpose was to gain strategic advantage, and bring new programming into communities, to improve transfers, and preserve campuses.”
President’s Report: As part of his regular report to the Board, President Cross said the UW System’s second Wisconsin Idea Summit – hosted by UW-Parkside and focused on Smart Futures – attracted close-to-overflow crowds, bringing together education leaders, government officials, industry leaders, and community members to learn about what a “smart” community is and how to create it.
“The Summit was a great example of the critical role the University can play as we strive to help cities, communities, our students, and our state prepared for a connected digital future,” Cross said.
In his report on News from Around the UW System, Cross told Regents UW-Green Bay and the UW System are teaming up with the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft to help launch new companies in Wisconsin. A recently announced “Entrepreneur-in-Residence” position at TitletownTech will connect start-up businesses with investors.
- See the full News from Around the UW System video
Sexual Violence and Harassment Priorities Working Group
In an update to the Board on the Sexual Violence and Harassment Priorities Working Group, Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer Shenita Brokenburr reported a 100 percent compliance across the UW System with requirements established by state and federal laws related to Regent policies on sexual violence and harassment and consensual relationships.
Brokenburr also reported a 99.6 percent completion rate among UW System employees for the mandatory training on preventing sexual harassment. Student completion rates will be updated in October.
Chancellor Sandeen being recognized with a resolution of appreciation; also pictured (from left): President Cross, Regent Ring, and Regent President Behling
Resolution of Appreciation
The Board presented a resolution of appreciation for UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor Cathy Sandeen, who has accepted a new position as Chancellor for the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Regent Ryan Ring, who noted that both he and Sandeen are first-generation college students, read the resolution.
In other action, the Board of Regents:
- Approved two degree programs at UW-Green Bay: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA);
- Approved a UW-Stevens Point proposal, in response to accreditation recommendations, to expand three existing degree programs from concentrations to fully articulated majors, within the UW-Stevens Point Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree: Bachelor of Science in Finance, Bachelor of Science in Management, and Bachelor of Science in Marketing;
- Approved UW-Madison’s supplemental request for a special building fund in support of its Chemistry Building for submission to the Vilas Trustees;
- Approved UW-Extension’s request to correct an error in the 2018 Report on Faculty Promotions, Tenure Designations, and Other Changes of Status;
- Approved UW-Green Bay’s request for authority to enter a lease with Brown County for office and laboratory space in the Brown County STEM Innovation Center, a building that will be constructed on the UW-Green Bay campus;
- Approved a request from UW System on behalf of UW-Madison for authority to increase the budget of the gift-funded UW-Madison Hoofers Boat Dock and Deck Replacement project;
- Approved an additional one-year extension to an existing agreement with Fox World Travel for travel management and corporate self-booking services;
- Approved a four-year Sponsored Research Agreement between UW-Milwaukee and Eaton Corporation;
- Approved a contract between UW-Madison and Learfield for a potential seven-year term;
- Approved a five-year Master Sponsored Research Agreement between UW-Madison and Deere and Company; and
- Approved a salary range exceeding 75% of the UW System President’s salary for the Dean of the School of Business at UW-Madison.
The UW System Board of Regents next meets on Oct. 4-5, 2018, at UW-Parkside.