Approved 11-06-25

ASEC Minutes

1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 30, 2025

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97722653207?pwd=QfVbSx9nmGFEsxW6rvqFffNw3Josn5.1

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

Guests: Catherine Carter, Dina Christenson, Barry Cook, Kim Harrington, Shane Hubbard, Beth Meyerand, Katrina Olson, Jennifer Mnookin, Jennifer Noyes, Ryan Radke, Scott Wildman

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.

The minutes of October 23 were approved.

General Reports

ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported that the Office of Finance and Administration offered to elevate Workday issues brought forward by ASEC. Specific issues will be collected and shared. An Assembly representative contacted ASEC Chair Ewer about a resolution on the proposed Regents policy on general education requirements. The Faculty Senate has two resolutions up for first readings at their October Senate meeting that relate to the proposed Regents policy. ASEC plans to draft a resolution that will go up for vote at the December Assembly meeting and invite Assembly representatives to collaborate in drafting the resolution.

Liaison Reports

Diane Stojanovich reported on the Universities of Wisconsin Shared Governance Representatives meeting. Universities of Wisconsin Administration provided clarity on the proposed Regent Policy Document (RPD) on the Core General Education Requirements and shared an update on the instructional workload requirement.

Convene in Closed Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss appointments to the Campus Transportation Committee; Committee on Disability Access and Inclusion; Professional Development and Recognition Committee; and nominations to the Distinguished Status Review Committee (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.

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

Business

• Appointments and Nominations – for vote

Motion to nominate Kevin Erb and Beth Schiffman to the Distinguished Status Review Committee (Paape). Seconded. Approved.

Motion to appoint Alison Rice to the Campus Transportation Committee; Liz Mahnke to the Committee on Disabilities Access and Inclusion; and Lorena Kemen to the Professional Development Recognition Committee (Crandall) Seconded. Approved.

• November Assembly Agenda – for vote

Motion to approve the November Assembly agenda (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.

Guests: Shane Hubbard and Beth Meyerand, co-chairs, Ad Hoc Working Group on Researchers and Scientists

The committee co-chairs provided an overview of its work to date. They are on track to complete the final report in early spring.  

Guest: Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor

Chancellor Mnookin thanked ASEC for their governance service.

Furloughs are a useful tool to address budgetary issues that are known or are likely to be temporary. They are an ineffective tool when the long-term concern is unknown and has the potential to be structural. For example, a current unknown is the federal indirect rate. The campus budget reductions are in place to plan for the potential of deeper financial challenges ahead. Schools, Colleges, and Divisions were asked to prioritize the student experience and use layoffs as a last resort.

The federal government shutdown has been in effect for a month. The campus continues to operate normally. In general, concerns remain regarding new awards and stop work orders as well as tariffs and the economy.

The RPD on Core General Education Requirements does not require the campus to change its general education requirements, including changes to the ethnics studies requirement. The draft Regent policy on instructional workload is available for comment. The policy provides UW-Madison with tools for flexibilities. Chancellor Mnookin is optimistic that UW-Madison can make the policy work to meet our needs. The Board of Regents will vote and submit the RPD to the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) by December 1.

Business

• Topics for guests

OHR: position cap; instructional workload policy

Meeting adjourned at 3:27 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff