“Sifting and Winnowing”--- The History and Practice of

Governance at UWM

Margo AndersonDistinguished Professor

History and Urban Studiesmargo@uwm.edu

Outline

• History of the university system• The unique nature of Wisconsin governance• The place of UWM in the university system• Hierarchy and mechanics of governance• Lesson from the past

Mitchell Hall “Sifting and Winnowing” Plaque

Origins of Academic Freedom

• “Whatever may be the limitations which trammel inquiry elsewhere, we believe that the great State University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

• (Taken from a report of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents in 1894; may be viewed as a plaque in front of the Downer Avenue middle entrance to UWM’s Mitchell Hall.)

Timeline• 1848-9: Wisconsin statehood and UW founded• 1860s: Normal Schools founded• 1885: Milwaukee Normal School founded• 1893-94: Academic Freedom Controversy• 1927: Milwaukee Normal School becomes Milwaukee

State Teachers College• 1956: Milwaukee State Teachers College and Milwaukee

Extension merge to become UWM, a branch campus of the University of Wisconsin

• 1960s: UWM moves toward autonomous research university status

• 1971-74: UW System created

UW System Enrollment, 1850-2010, Log Scale

1850 1900 1950 2000 2050YEAR

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ENROL LMENT

Linear Trend, UW System Enrollment (Log Scale)

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UWM Enrollment History

UW System Enrollment, 1972-2012

Chapter 36 Defines Responsibilities for

Administration and Governance of the University System

Chapter 36 Defines Regent Responsibilities

• Regents: 36.09(1)(a)– The primary responsibility for governance of the

system shall be vested in the board which shall enact policies and promulgate rules for governing the system, plan for the future needs of the state for university education, ensure the diversity of quality undergraduate programs while preserving the strength of the state's graduate training and research centers and promote the widest degree of institutional autonomy within the controlling limits of system-wide policies and priorities established by the board.

Chapter 36 Defines Responsibility for Administration

• The president. • (a) The president shall be president of all the faculties

and shall be vested with the responsibility of administering the system under board policies and shall direct a central administration which shall assist the board and the president in establishing system-wide policies in monitoring, reviewing and evaluating these policies, in coordinating program development and operation among institutions, in planning the programmatic, financial and physical development of the system, in maintaining fiscal control and compiling and recommending educational programs, operating budgets and building programs for the board….

Chapter 36 Defines Campus Administration

• The chancellors. • (a) The chancellors shall be the executive heads of their

respective faculties and institutions and shall be vested with the responsibility of administering board policies under the coordinating direction of the president and be accountable and report to the president and the board on the operation and administration of their institutions. Subject to board policy the chancellors of the institutions in consultation with their faculties shall be responsible for designing curricula and setting degree requirements; determining academic standards and establishing grading systems; defining and administering institutional standards for faculty peer evaluation and screening candidates for appointment, promotion and tenure; recommending individual merit increases; administering associated auxiliary services; and administering all funds, from whatever source, allocated, generated or intended for use of their institutions.

Chapter 36 Defines Faculty Responsibilities

• Faculty. • The faculty of each institution, subject to the

responsibilities and powers of the board, the president and the chancellor of such institution, shall be vested with responsibility for the immediate governance of such institution and shall actively participate in institutional policy development. As such, the faculty shall have the primary responsibility for academic and educational activities and faculty personnel matters. The faculty of each institution shall have the right to determine their own faculty organizational structure and to select representatives to participate in institutional governance.

UWM Policies and Procedures Defines Campus Level Governance and Responsibilities of the Faculty

UWM P&P• 1.02 Powers and Jurisdiction of the University Faculty• (1) The University Faculty has charge of all educational

matters which concern more than one college, school or division, or which are otherwise of general interest.

• …• (4) The University Faculty may delegate functional

authority and responsibility to committees, other groups, or administrative offices; however, such bodies or offices are accountable to the University Faculty which retains primary responsibilities for academic and educational activities and faculty personnel matters.

UWM P&P• 1.09 Procedures for Implementing Faculty Actions • (1) Subject to the limitations of the Wisconsin

Statutes and the policies of the Board of Regents, formal actions taken by the University Faculty or its Senate become University policy to be implemented by appropriate authorities within thirty (30) days after they have been transmitted to the Chancellor by the Secretary of the University.

• (2) The Chancellor may delay implementation of any faculty action or part thereof beyond the thirty (30) day period by notifying the University Committee, within that period, of his/her intention and the reasons therefore.

School/College and Departmental Governance

• Within this framework, each school/college establishes its governance procedures

• There is a history of these practices, as every school/college at UWM has had to do so, and has often revised them.

• Faculty Documents, maintained by the Secretary of the University, provide background and examples.

An Example….from an earlier beginning

• From the 1950s to the 1970s, governance systems were on the faculty agenda almost continuously, with big questions

• Faculty Document 55 (1958): “Special Report of the University Committee-Milwaukee on the Future of the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee” (excerpts)

The Faculty in Action…

“The Faculty’s Prerogative”

“Departmental Responsibilities”

“Coordination of Administrative and Academic Affairs”

“Business Affairs and Budget”

“Student Activities”

And defining the future…….

• Of the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health…– Faculty Document xxxx– Faculty Document yyyy– Faculty Document zzzz

Good Luck!

• Questions?

• Comments?