Some UW-Madison faculty members are opposing a plan that would shake up the university's internal structure by creating a new office to oversee research.

A resolution from the sociology department will be presented at Monday's Faculty Senate meeting, which alleges that the proposed reorganization has been presented without a detailed written plan or proper consideration of its implications.

The plan, presented by Provost Paul DeLuca, would put oversight of research under a new vice chancellor. Control of research functions are currently housed in the Graduate School.

DeLuca says the university's nearly $900 million research enterprise has outgrown the Graduate School, and a vice chancellor for research is necessary to make sure the university is in compliance with national guidelines.

He admitted last week that the school could have lost its accreditation - and by proxy millions of dollars in federal funding - because of aging animal facilities.

But in the resolution, faculty say the plan was developed without input from faculty, staff and students, a requirement called shared governance.

A committee has been formed to review the plan, and the resolution calls for that committee's full report before any changes are made.

DeLuca said last week he thinks there has been tremendous input on the plan. He said he met with the deans of every school and college and held five "town hall" meetings to get reaction from the campus community.

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