Academic Staff Assembly Minutes 03-14-22
Approved 04-11-22
ACADEMIC STAFF
ASSEMBLY MEETING MINUTES
272 Bascom Hall
Monday, March 14,
2022
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Provost
Scholz called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial
Resolution for Joanne Conger (ASA #780)
Susan
Zahner presented the memorial resolution for Joanne Conger.
Guest:
LaVar Charleston, Chief Diversity Officer
Chief
Diversity Officer Charleston introduced himself to the Assembly and provided
some of his personal background of over 20 years as a scholar, practitioner,
and leader dedicated to employing data- and research-informed practices in
diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). To accomplish excellence in
these areas, we have to work toward a culturally
responsive climate that intentionally integrates DEIB into all of its
functions. The role of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational
Achievement (DDEEA) is helping to provide leadership in this space. The four
pillars of leadership of organizational and inclusive excellence, which provide
the foundation for DDEEA’s approach, are: 1) asset-based approaches, which
entails inventorying and capitalizing on existing strengths, 2) research
informed practices, employing empirically based practices for attainment of collected
goals 3) organizational excellence, specifically recruitment and retention of
highly qualified students, staff, and faculty, and 4) campus and community
engagement, with shared action and shared accountability. These pillars build
on the existing commitment of the university as expressed by the campus
diversity statement. The idea is for DDEEA to serve in multiple ways: as a convener
to facilitate collaborations; as a catalyst for a culture of innovation by
identifying metrics for continuous improvement; as a consultant to support
training and provide a central access point for resources to support schools/colleges/divisions
in their strategic planning; and working in community-building and campus
engagement to create spaces for organizational learning and affinity group
gathering. Now that we have local diversity efforts in place, DDEEA provides a
model of shared responsibility and commitment in coordinating cross-campus
initiatives. Strategic Priorities for DDEEA include: building a culture of
organizational learning for professional development and capacity building of DEIB
principles among faculty and staff; fostering a culture of belonging while
enhancing recruitment and retention of underrepresented students; facilitating
an effective model of distributed strategic diversity leadership for shared
visioning and implementation; and utilizing and maximizing data to inform
equity-minded policies, practices, and decision-making. Meeting the goals
related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is everyone’s
responsibility, and success is the ability to work effectively in a
collaborative manner.
Automatic Consent
Business
The
Academic Staff Assembly minutes of Monday, February 14, 2022, were approved.
Reports
ASEC
Chair Tim Dalby reminded attendees that the ballot for ASEC is open until March
17 and encouraged academic staff to cast their votes. Applications for the
Spring Academic Staff Professional Development Program close on Monday, March
21. The Academic Staff Institute will be held on April 13, and registration
closes on March 29. Those who are interested in serving on the Campus Climate
Survey Task Force to review the results of the student climate survey should
register their interest in doing so via a short survey. ASEC continues to work
with administration to improve compensation, job security, and job
satisfaction. A climate survey for staff is coming out from April 12-May 3.
Mallory
Musolf presented the ASPRO report. There have been
over 60 bills that ASPRO has been tracking during this legislative session. On
March 11, Governor Evers signed SB557 into law, which allows UW System to
generate new revenue streams to fund System priorities. To help ASPRO members
keep track of current and future bills, the ASPRO Board has created a
legislative tracker that includes weblinks for the bill’s history page, the
bill itself, any amendments, the outcome in the Assembly and Senate, ASPRO’s
position on the bill, and whether it was signed or vetoed. There is still a
reduced membership rate promotion for new members.
Tetyana
Schneider, Co-Chair of the Campus Diversity and Climate Committee, presented
the annual report of that committee (ASA #781). The CDCC advises on campus
diversity and climate, works collaboratively with and
advises the Chief Diversity Officer, and makes policy recommendations. There
are four subcommittees dedicated to the goal of ensuring inclusive learning
environments. There were also recommendations from a subcommittee reviewing
diversity reports from schools, colleges, and divisions. These recommendations
included strengthening data infrastructure around diversity, equity, and
inclusion; more of a focus on systems when it comes to increasing equity in
different disciplines; focusing on assessment and setting long-term targets; a
need for resources to implement these; and to have working groups exchange best
practices. There have been many discussions about a “Diversity 101” program as
well.
Assembly Standing
Committee Slates (ASA #782)
Brady
Minter, Nominating Committee Member, presented the slates for the Academic
Staff Assembly Standing Committees. Those running for the Communications
Committee include Faye Lux, Pamela O’Donnell, Corissa
Runde, and Miranda Winkelman. Those running for the Compensation and Economic
Benefits Committee include Joyce Jackson, Dean Ladwig, Dagna
Sheerar, and Seng Thao. Those running for the
Districting and Representation Committee include Alex Squitieri, David Toland,
and Cynthia Waldeck. Those running for the Mentoring Committee include Liza
Chang, Christopher East, Tarakee Jackson, Peter
Kinsley, and Alissa Oleck. Those running for the Personnel Policies and
Procedures Committee include Kelley Cuene, Jason
Jankoski, Angie Rosas, Scott Wildman, and Chelsea Wimmer. Those running for the
Professional Development and Recognition Committee include Nick Ewoldt, Alyssa
Phelps, Martha Reck, Bill Tishler, Christopher Yue,
and Yangchun Xin. No nominations were added to any of
the slates from the floor.
Nominating
Committee Slate (ASA #783)
Donna
Cole, ASEC Member, presented the slate for the Nominating Committee. Those
running for this committee include Josh Cutler, Nicole Jennings, Nathan Jung,
and Kelly Krein. No nominations were added to the slate from the floor.
Resolution on an
Accessible and Inclusive Campus (ASA #784)
Donna
Cole, ASEC Member, presented the Resolution on an Accessible and Inclusive
Campus for a first reading. The resolution stemmed from a resolution that was
presented to the Faculty Senate from the Committee on Disability Access and
Inclusion, as well as a discussion that was held in late 2020 related to a
resolution supporting instruction and training on diversity, equity, inclusion,
and social justice and the lack of acknowledgment of disability in that
document. The resolution calls for the inclusion of disability within the
university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and a number of measures designed to raise awareness of
disability and ableism. There was discussion of potential suggestions for the
document, which will be considered by ASEC before the resolution is presented for
a vote at the April Assembly meeting.
Provost
Report
Provost
Scholz commented on the fact that this was the first Assembly meeting in almost
two years where masks were not required. Dane County’s masking order expired as
of March 1, with UW System institutions ending their mask mandates by spring
break. The CDC’s guidance on indoor masking has also changed within the last
couple of weeks. Weekly case counts have declined steeply on campus. We
continue to encourage anyone who wants to wear a mask to do so. If instructors
wish to request masking in classes, they are able to
do so. There was excellent compliance with classroom masking when the mandate
was in place. PCR tests and antigen tests will continue to be made available.
Students are encouraged to test upon their return from spring break travel.
Spring commencement will be held on May 14, and United Nations Ambassador Linda
Thomas-Greenfield will be the keynote speaker. Events in Ukraine weigh heavily
on our minds, and the university has expressed its views through the AAU and
the APLU calling for peace in the region. There have recently been two
ceremonies of note: the Outstanding Women of Color Awards and the
Administrative Improvement Awards. The following searches are in progress: the
Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Director of the
Global Health Institute, the Director of Wisconsin Public Media, the Vice
Chancellor of Finance and Administration, and the Chancellor. These should all
be completed within the next two months.
Meeting
adjourned at 4:59 pm.
Minutes submitted
by Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff