In response to a provision on faculty credit hours in the recently passed Wisconsin biennial budget (see page 40 of the budget motion), Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen has named a workgroup to provide input to UW System leaders and the Board of Regents.

The budget calls for the Regents to submit additional instructional workload guidelines to the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) by for approval by the end of 2025. Chancellor Mnookin stated earlier in the summer, “We will work with the Board of Regents to develop a reasonable and thoughtful policy that accounts for the invaluable contributions made by faculty and instructional staff, one that recognizes that we operate in a competitive marketplace for the most talented, effective and productive researchers and teachers. For the sake of our ongoing excellence, it will be imperative that the Regents and JCOER craft and approve a policy that recognizes the vital importance of teaching, research and outreach to our mission, and positions us to recruit and retain the strongest possible faculty and instructional staff.”

The committee is meeting daily to provide input to UW System. The Board of Regents is expected to consider policies at their October meeting, in advance of presenting a final recommendation to the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Employee Relations by December.

Three members of the committee have ties to CALS: Kent Wiegel is a professor in Animal and Dairy Sciences in addition to serving as the vice provost for faculty and staff affairs, Katrina Forest is a department chair and professor in bacteriology, and University Committee appointee Trina McMahon is a faculty member with a split appointment in Engineering and Bacteriology.

Members of the UW-Madison Instructional Workload Ad Hoc Workgroup, fall 2025: