Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 02-26-2026
Approved 03-05-26
ASEC Agenda
1:00 – 3:30 p.m., Thursday, February 26, 2026
53 Bascom Hall
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97722653207
Members present: Aaron Crandall, Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Alissa Ewer (chair), Eunsook Jung, Terry Paape, Nicole Senter, Diane Stojanovich, Nola Walker
Guests: Lula Chong Baker, Demi Jo Carr, Lucien Gerondeau, Angela Kita, Delight Hensler, Allison La Tarte, Alena Louie, Karen Massetti-Moran, Katrina Olson, Kelly Petersen, Devesh Ranjan, Emily Reynolds, Carlyn Ross, Patrick Sheehan, Scott Wildman, John Zumbrunnen
The meeting was called to order at 1:01 p.m.
The minutes of February 19 were approved.
General Reports
ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported that finalist visits for the provost position are taking place this week. As part of the process, each finalist will meet with the shared governance groups.
Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reported that the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee’s draft layoff notice resource document is available for ASEC’s review. Feedback is due by March 4 at noon.
Liaison Reports
Nola Walker reported the Campus Planning Committee cancelled their February meeting citing a lack of topics. Their next meeting is scheduled for April.
Diane Stojanovich reported that in lieu of holding a scheduled meeting, committee members of the University Academic Planning Council were asked to consider consent agenda items and one approval item. These items were subsequently approved via a Qualtrics survey.
Nicole Senter reported that the School of Medicine and Public Health Committee on Academic Staff Issues is working on their strategic plan. They also discussed LinkUW and the OpEx Advancement Program.
John Zumbrunnen, Interim Provost
Nearly a year ago, the university ended its partnership with The PhD Project in connection with concerns raised in the U.S. Department of Education’s Dear Colleague Letter and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights investigation launched in March 2025. On February 17, 2026, the university signed a voluntary agreement to bring the investigation to a close. It confirmed the university had already ended its relationship with the PhD Project.
Campus will transition to the new budget approach on July 1, 2026. When it is first implemented, the total base funding for each school/college/division will remain the same. The budget approach will be monitored to assess its impact. Data, Academic Planning, and Institutional Research (DAPIR) has been charged with developing a set of metrics to support this monitoring effort. The intended purpose of the metrics is to enhance transparency on budget approach inputs, provide a high-level overview of change over time at the school/college/division level, and provide indicators of potential institution-wide impacts. DAPIR is seeking feedback on the proposed metrics. The goal is to identify three to five metrics to monitor. The Academic Staff Institute will have a session on the budget approach that will include information on the metrics.
Guest: Devesh Ranjan, Dean of the College of Engineering
Dean Ranjan thanked ASEC for their service. He expressed pride in being a UW–Madison graduate and emphasized his desire to positively impact the student experience just as he was impacted in the College of Engineering. He also highlighted the essential contributions of staff and shared his commitment to making the college a place where staff feel they belong and can thrive. Dean Ranjan stressed the importance of building trust in the college; fostering collective engagement across students, staff, and faculty; and supporting staff career development and expanding staff awards. The College of Engineering Committee Advocating for Staff Issues and the dean’s office have been engaged in exploring staff development and award efforts.
Guests: Patrick Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer and Karen Massetti-Moran, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of Human Resources
The increased use of remote work during COVID-19 highlighted a need for strong workplace flexibility and appropriate support for employees and supervisors. The Legislative Audit Bureau reviewed remote work practices and risk mitigation. While overall feedback was positive, the audit raised concerns about travel tied to remote work, which led to policy updates, including clarifying guidance on the employee headquarters location. As part of the transition to Workday, remote work language has been updated to flexible work arrangements. International remote work introduces important considerations, including tax obligations and cybersecurity risks.
The campus is focused on how to deliver services compliantly and effectively. LinkUW is an initiative focused on services that involve a high degree of compliance and risk in the areas of HR and finance. By the end of phase two, it will support about 25% of campus, with participating units opting in voluntarily. There is a key interest in expanding these services for the greater part of campus. LinkUW is focused on thoughtful career progression opportunities for its staff, alongside its service delivery goals.
The OHR Compensation Center of Excellence (CCoE) team evaluates salary ranges on an annual basis and is currently doing an analysis that should be complete by the end of March. Following the evaluation, recommendations will be made and sent to OHR leadership for review and subsequent discussion with the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. Any changes would be in line with the start of a fiscal year. OHR has initiated discussions with UW System regarding potential modifications to the Standard Job Descriptions (SJDs).
OHR reiterated the free or low-cost professional development opportunities provided by the Learning and Talent Development office and others on campus. The Employee Assistance Office is partnering with LifeMatters on wellness. Past wellness webinar recordings are available at: hr.wisc.edu/employee-assistance-office/wellness-webinar-recordings/. Campus also offers a Mental Health First Aid training: www.myworkday.com/wisconsin/learning/course/e7ef16c477a410014fe4bdc03c8b0000?type=9882927d138b100019b6a2df1a46018b.
Business
- March Assembly agenda – for vote
John Zumbrunnen is planning to discuss the draft teaching workload policy at the upcoming March Assembly meeting. ASEC discussed the revised resolution on surveillance.
Motion to approve the March Assembly agenda (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.
- Topics for ASEC meeting guests:
VPFSA: RISE; resources for academic staff
SoE Dean and SMPH Dean: strategic priorities; staff interactions and input; CASI engagement
Meeting adjourned at 3:28 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff