Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 10-02-2025

Approved 10-09-25

ASEC Minutes

1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 2

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97365066489?pwd=CJ5rI0F8vQkOv4oQF6z41wOuU49VOi.1

Members Present: Aaron Crandall, Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Alissa Ewer (chair), Albert Muniz, Terry Paape, Nicole Senter, Diane Stojanovich, Nola Walker

Guests: Allison Lynch, Karen Massetti-Moran, Patrick Sheehan, Scott Wildman, John Zumbrunnen

The meeting was called to order at 1:01 p.m.

The minutes of September 25 were approved.

General Reports

Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff (SOAS), reported that a call will go out soon from the SOAS office for nominations for the Ad Hoc Academic Freedom Committee. This committee is charged by the University Committee to work on matters of academic freedom and assessing the potential for a standing committee in future years. There will be two academic staff members appointed to the committee, one in an instructional role and one in a research role.

Liaison Reports

Diane Stojanovich reported on the Universities of Wisconsin Shared Governance Representatives meeting. The Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship & Civil Dialogue’s Director Michael Ford gave an update on the 2025 Universities of Wisconsin Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff Survey on Freedom of Expression, Academic Freedom, Viewpoint Diversity and Civil Dialogue. Several concerns were raised relating to the intent of the survey, benefits for completing the survey, and distribution of survey results. The survey will be anonymous and there is no requirement to complete it. Universities of Wisconsin Policy 655, Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Applications, will be effective April 1, 2026. The policy was developed in response to the requirements of the United States Department of Justice’s April 24, 2024 rule created under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding accessibility of web content and mobile applications. There was also a joint session to discuss challenges with the Workday transition. Universities of Wisconsin Administration has a webpage to track system trends and known issues: wisconsin.edu/workday/known-issues/ (Net ID required).

Richard Barajas reported that the Pharmacy CASI is planning their events for the year.

Guest: John Zumbrunnen, Interim Provost

Prior to the federal shutdown, a team on campus has been working on the possibility of a federal shutdown to think through contingencies and to better understand the challenges we face. Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) is advising those with federal funds to watch closely for stop work orders and guidance from federal agencies. The impact of federal funds varies across the campus. With Workday in place, the campus is able to track its cash balances daily. Campus is working hard to communicate with the dean’s offices and will continue to think about additional financial controls should the shutdown extend beyond a month. Interim Provost Zumbrunnen will be in frequent contact with shared governance leaders on this matter. The Ad Hoc Budget Working Group’s first meeting is scheduled for October 24. Part of the committee’s focus will include budget uncertainty and the federal shutdown.

Shared governance is an important part of our campus. Interim Provost Zumbrunnen wants collaboration and partnership with academic staff. This will happen at ASEC meetings and in other spaces. It is important to be as timely as possible with this partnership. It will sometimes necessitate meetings with shared governance leadership.

Convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss nominations to the Labor Codes and Licensing Advisory Committee and an appointment to the Campus Diversity and Climate Committee (Barajas). Seconded. Approved.

Motion to Reconvene in Open Session (Blazel). Seconded. Approved.

Recessed at 2:10 p.m.

Reconvened at 2:21 p.m.

Business

• Nomination and Appointment – for vote

Motion to nominate Ally Brovelli to the Labor Codes and Licensing Advisory Committee (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.

Motion to appoint Leah Rineck to the Campus Diversity and Climate Committee (Barajas). Seconded. Approved.

• Supporting shared governance letter

ASEC reviewed and agreed to move the draft language forward to the University Committee for edits.

• October Assembly Agenda – for vote

Motion to approve the October Assembly agenda (Walker). Seconded. Approved.

• Topics for Guests

RSP: RSP’s strategic plan; federal grants update

VPFSA: staff climate survey; VPFSA staffing update; Ad Hoc Review Committee on Academic Staff Research Professor Titles report

Recessed at 2:47 p.m.

Reconvened at 2:58 p.m.

Guests: Patrick Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Karen Massetti-Moran, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of Human Resources (OHR)

For the past several weeks, campus has been preparing and coordinating for a potential shutdown. It is a top priority to support employees and those directly impacted, protect the research enterprise, and maintain operations. The OHR compensation team is reviewing the Ad Hoc Review Committee on Academic Staff Research Professor Titles report. CHRO Sheehan looks forward to continued conversation about the report. The Universities of Wisconsin as a whole are in compliance with the position cap. OHR is partnering with the Madison Business Office and Universities of Wisconsin Administration to streamline tracking and the position cap reporting process.

Meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff