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The University of Wisconsin Faculty
Senate proposed to create a new department and released the annual
report for the Campus Planning Committee Monday.

The Senate discussed restructuring the
women?s studies program into a full-fledged department. Under this
recommendation, the women?s studies program would also change its
name to the department of gender and women?s studies. The
recommendation passed in the Senate with no concerns.

Julie D?Acci, chair of the women?s
studies program, presented the recommendation to the Senate. She said
it passed the L&S Academic Planning Council in September 2007 and
the University Academic Planning Council in November 2007.

The plan is now awaiting the approval
of the chancellor and the provost before further action is taken, but
according to Secretary of the Faculty David Musolf the general
consensus is that the women?s studies program will soon become a
department in its own right.

?This has already passed two
committees and was presented here, so anyone could clarify any
concerns they had that they hadn?t had a chance to voice at the
other meetings,? Musolf said. ?I see no reason why it won?t get
the chancellor?s approval.?

Also discussed Monday was the Annual
Report for the Campus Planning Committee, which advises the
chancellor on policy issues affecting campus buildings. The report
included a presentation of a $51 million project to either renovate
or add to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences?
Agricultural Research Stations.

This is a six year plan, with $11 to
$13 million going to short-term fixes and core issues, $28 million
allotted to mid-term needs and $10 million budgeted for the long-term
needs of the stations. UW is currently prioritizing the committee
recommendations.

The Senate also discussed the
chancellor search. Astronomy professor Robert Mathieu emphasized the
need for faculty members to use their own contacts in the search for
a new chancellor. He said this is an expedited process, needing a
decision by early May.

?This is something that we need to do
now, not in a month from now, or two months from now,? Mathieu
said.

He urged faculty to look among their
colleagues at other universities and to send in a name as soon as
possible.

Human ecology professor Ann Hoyt also
spoke about a faculty initiative to provide need-based scholarships
to graduate students. This would involve seed money from the UW
Foundation and a fundraiser among faculty to add extra funds.
Twenty-one Senate members were randomly polled to determine the
amount of support for the campaign, and of those polled, none said
they would not donate, and 18 said they themselves would contribute.

Although more information will not be
available until March, Hoyt said she was ?very encouraged? by the
amount of support for the campaign.