Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 06-17-21
Approved 06-24-21
ASEC Minutes
2:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, 2021
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/93936751067
Members
Present: Donna Cole; Jenny
Dahlberg; Tim Dalby, chair; Mallory Musolf; Leslie Petty; Deb Shapiro; Lindsey
Stoddard Cameron; Bill Tishler
Guests: Lesley Fisher, Kevin Graeme, Angela Kita, Karen Massetti-Moran, Karl
Scholz, Mark Walters
The meeting was called to order at 2:01 p.m.
The minutes of June 3 were approved.
General Reports
Tim Dalby, ASEC Chair, reported on the recent newspaper article on single payroll in which he
was quoted. At the meeting of the chiefs of staff, chairs, and secretaries, it
was reported that domestic travel restrictions have been lifted, though they
are still in place for international travel. Vaccination rates among employees
are very high, and there has been further outreach to ensure that vaccinated
individuals have reported their status to University Health Services. They are
looking at entrance testing for the fall for international students. The recent
issues in Humanities have been addressed, and work on Van Hise will continue
through the fall, with some classes being moved during fall semester. Tim
reported that an ASEC listening session was held on June 10. Topics included
questions about current supervisor references on job applications, the Chief
Diversity Officer search, and community engagement with Extension. Tim,
Mallory, and Lesley met with Mark Walters for their monthly meeting. There are
discussions about how clinical faculty may be added to the remote work policy
in similar way to faculty. There is also a series of courses coming from
Learning and Talent Development about returning to onsite work, managing hybrid
teams, and a variety of other related areas.
Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff, reported
that the Research Professionals Conference was in progress and would continue
through the following week. Jake and Lesley will be meeting with members of the
Communications Committee to discuss the updated academic staff website on
Friday.
Liaison Reports
Donna Cole reported on that morning’s meeting
of the SMPH CASI. The School’s research professor committee convened for the
first time to approve the first research professor title for the school.
Leslie Petty met with the chair of the
International Division CASI. They discussed remote work as well as the fact
that there are some cost recovery units that have furloughs through the end of
the year.
Leslie Petty and Deb Shapiro discussed their
participation as ASEC representatives to the shared governance sessions for the
Chief Diversity Officer finalists.
Guest: Karl Scholz, Provost
Provost Scholz
asked for ASEC’s input on the possibility of requiring travel insurance for
those who are traveling on university-sponsored trips internationally. This
insurance is at a minimal cost and pays benefits for clinical treatments and
other issues while travelers are abroad. Several of our Big 10 peers do this.
It would have to be seamless systematically. ASEC was generally in favor of the
idea, with the understanding that it would be the university covering the cost
of the insurance for travelers.
Addressing the
question of institutional stability with the departure of some high-level
administrators, Provost Scholz reminded attendees that Chancellor Blank is currently
the second longest-serving chancellor in the Big 10, and that he is currently
the fourth longest-serving provost. Rob Cramer and Nancy Lynch have moved into
the Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and the Vice
Chancellor for Legal Affairs positions respectively, and campus will soon be
wrapping up the search for a new Chief Diversity Officer. With respect to the
new remote work policy, there have been numerous discussions about this, and we
want to see how the new normal unfolds, with hopefully appropriate levels of
flexibility and a healthy work-life balance.
On accommodations
for international students, we very much want students to be present at UW.
There may be issues, and those will be looked at as they arise. Entrance
testing is somewhat related to why UW is not requiring vaccinations. Over 80%
of faculty and staff are vaccinated. There are vaccination campaigns, with town
halls in July and August, along with mobile vaccination clinics. There are
efforts to get the rate as high as possible. For international students, there
will be entrance testing, and vaccination will be an option as well.
Discussions are still in progress about individuals who have received vaccines
that are not currently FDA approved.
Motion to Convene in Closed Session Pursuant
to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to Discuss Appointments to the Committee on
Disability Access and Inclusion and the Retirement Issues Committee (Musolf). Seconded.
Approved.
Motion to Reconvene in Open Session (Petty).
Seconded. Approved.
Business
·
Appointments – for vote
Motion
to appoint Todd Michelson-Ambelang to the Committee on Disability Access and
Inclusion and Mario Pennella to the Retirement Issues Committee (Stoddard
Cameron). Seconded. Approved.
Recessed at 3:12 p.m.
Reconvened at 3:16 p.m.
Guest:
Mark Walters, Chief Human Resources Officer; and Karen Massetti-Moran, Director
of Total Rewards, Office of Human Resources
Mark and Karen discussed
the supervisory requirement for director titles, addressing ASEC’s questions
about the 2.0 FTE requirements for individuals in particular roles that match
their job duties, but because they don’t have the necessary number of direct
reports, they won’t get those titles. OHR has heard these concerns from
multiple stakeholders, and they have started looking at particular areas in
schools/colleges/divisions and reevaluating with HR directors across the
institution. They are looking at solutions and how to make sure employees are
not adversely impacted and that equity issues aren’t created.
Regarding the
single payroll transition, there have been over 250 applications so far for the
short-term loan program. OHR has provided UW System with some information in
case they need to refer people. The loan program offers up to $2000 in $500
increments.
On guidelines for
business titles, OHR wants to make clear to employees that once those titles
are loaded into HRS, they will also be visible in the directory. Schools/colleges/divisions
won’t be prevented from using prefixes as part of business titles, but they
have to be consistent in how they do it. There should be pay reviews under the
new salary administration guidelines, not only at the school/college/division
level, but also across the institution by OHR. For positions with one level,
there will be triggers for supervisors to have conversations about progression
and the possibility of using a prefix in their business title. Business title
changes can happen independently or can flow with progression within a role.
ASEC asked for more examples of how this might work in the guidelines around
business titles.
Addressing a
question about vaccinations for UW staff working on campus programs that
involve minors under the age of 13, there is no requirement for individuals in
these areas to be vaccinated. There are strict protocols in place when people
will require masks. More information in this area is expected at a later date.
Business
·
2021-22 Academic Staff Chat Topics
There
will be 6 academic staff chats next year, three each semester. ASEC
brainstormed a variety of topics. Jake will work on finalizing the topics in
consultation with the Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs.
·
Topics for Guests
IVCFA:
guidelines for new buildings including
hybrid technology; Sustainability and deferred maintenance and the budget and
how those areas come together; goals for his time in the position, budget
forecast (including revenue innovation study group)
Charlie
and Crystal: ways to advocate in a
public sphere outside of ASPRO
Meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.
Minutes
submitted by Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff