Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 09-25-2025
Approved 10-02-2025
ASEC Minutes
1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25, 2025
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/94049899925?pwd=9XDvkhBLvsJY4gadaSaiivQt8tNzlg.1
Members Present: Aaron Crandall, Richard Barajas, Alissa Ewer (chair), Albert Muniz, Terry Paape, Nicole Senter, Nola Walker
Members Absent: Hanna Blazel, Diane Stojanovich
Guests: Jenu Chacko, Donna Cole, Lucien Gerondeau, Karen Massetti-Moran, Scott Wildman, John Zumbrunnen
The meeting was called to order at 1:02 p.m.
The minutes of September 18 were approved.
Motion to amend the minutes of September 4 (Senter). Seconded. Approved.
General Reports
Alissa Ewer, ASEC chair, reported that there is a proposed Regent Policy Document (RPD) regarding core general education requirements. The deadline to comment on the RPD is October 8th. There will be an update on the Universities of Wisconsin Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff Survey on Freedom of Expression, Academic Freedom, Viewpoint Diversity and Civil Dialogue provided at the Universities of Wisconsin shared governance meeting this week. Diane Stojanovich will be at the meeting and can provide an update to ASEC next week.
Liaison Reports
Nola Walker reported that the International Division Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) discussed impacts of federal funding cuts, including layoffs. The CASI is seeking advice from ASEC about how to elevate these issues and advocate for International Division staff. Walker also reported that the Campus Planning Committee held their first meeting of the academic year.
Albert Muniz reported that the Nominating Committee met to vote on nominations for the Labor Codes and Licensing Advisory Committee. Muniz also met with Terry Paape and Wren Singer to discuss the process of standing up a Division for Teaching and Learning CASI.
Guest: John Zumbrunnen, Interim Provost
To comply with 2025 Wisconsin Act 15 requirements, Universities of Wisconsin released a proposed Regent Policy Document on core general education requirements. The Document is open for comment until October 8th. Interim Provost Zumbrunnen asked the Coordinating the Academic Student Experience (CASE) team to think about how we will implement this on our campus.
The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) is currently housed within the College of Letters and Science. Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, director of CDIS, is leading preparations for a possible Board of Regents vote later this academic year to approve the creation of a new college.
There are 8,500 students in the incoming freshman class this year. All 72 Wisconsin counties are represented, as are all 50 states. This year’s class saw an increase in the number of Pell Grant recipients, as well as underrepresented students of color. There was a slight increase in the number of transfer students and a decrease in the number of international students.
Guests: Donna Cole and Jenu Chacko, co-chairs, Ad Hoc Review Committee on Academic Staff Research Professor Titles
The committee completed their work and shared their report with ASEC. Donna and Jenu provided an overview of the committee’s findings and answered questions from ASEC members.
Guest: Karen Massetti-Moran, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of Human Resources
Related to Workday, Universities of Wisconsin launched a weekly meeting to look at human resource business processes that intersect with finance. Business processes are getting stuck. They are hoping to determine where things are getting stuck and make improvements.
We do not have specific training for managers on prioritizing vs cutting resources during financial uncertainty. This topic tends to be embedded in trainings related to change management. Life Matters may also have trainings related to this.
It is challenging to provide an update on layoff numbers as many things can happen while someone is in layoff status.
Campus guidance has not changed related to the First Amendment and free speech. Information can be found at https://free-expression.wisc.edu/.
The Kauffman Seminar is co-owned by OHR and the Office of the Provost. It is designed as a cohort model of individuals from across campus. Individuals are nominated to participate by their dean/division head.
Recessed at 2:56 p.m.
Reconvened at 3:07 p.m.
Business
- Link UW
Academic staff governance representatives will meet with university leaders to discuss Link UW. Using ASEC feedback, the Secretary of the Academic Staff Office will draft an agenda for the meeting.
- October Assembly agenda
ASEC reviewed the October Assembly agenda. They will vote on the agenda at their next meeting.
- Topics for Guests
Interim Provost: government shutdown impacts; shared governance support
OHR: government shutdown impacts; recommendations from Ad Hoc Review Committee on Academic Staff Research Professor Titles report; position cap
Meeting adjourned at 3:23 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Lesley Fisher, deputy secretary of the academic staff