Approved 10-05-23

ASEC Minutes

1:55 – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, September 28, 2023

53 Bascom Hall

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/93223941305

Members Present: Donna Cole; Stephanie Elkins; Alissa Ewer; Julie Hunt Johnson; Stephanie Jones; Albert Muniz, chair; Terry Paape; Lindsey Stoddard Cameron; Nola Walker

Guests: Lesley Fisher, Jaimee Gilford, Lauren Hasselbacher, Jennifer Mnookin, Jennifer Noyes, Scott Wildman

The meeting was called to order at 1:57 p.m.

The minutes of September 21 were approved.

Guest: Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor

Chancellor Mnookin discussed enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year. UW-Madison had 68,000 applications, which is a 6% increase over last year. This year’s incoming class size ended up with around 8,000 students. Every freshman and transfer student who wanted campus housing was able to get it.

In the research space, Fiscal Year 2023 was the largest research award year in our history. There were 15 departments and institutes that had major increases. We won’t know what these mean for our Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) rankings until next year.

Overall, our fiscal situation is solid. While we have had a budget reduction, we are also in a different position from other UW System schools in this respect. We need to think about medium-term revenue generating strategies. Chancellor Mnookin is also working with UW System and legislators to move implementation of the pay plan forward.

At this year’s academic leadership summit, attendees discussed the increase in negative perceptions of higher education. Chancellor Mnookin asked attendees about further thoughts on contributing factors to that increase, what we are already doing well that we can amplify, and what we should be doing differently. Much of the feedback revolved around communication and storytelling. UW has hired Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Diana Harvey to draw more attention to this set of questions. This is not exclusively a Wisconsin issue. ASEC suggested building upon the work of the UniverCity Alliance, growing ambassadors for the student experience, and encouraging more institutionalization of these questions at various events during the academic year.

General Reports

Albert Muniz, ASEC Chair, met with the chairs of the Associated Students of Madison and the University Committee to kickoff monthly meetings between governance chairs throughout the year. They discussed several issues, including the West Campus District plan, research, student economic diversity, and the reporting line for the Dean of the Graduate School.

Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff, reported that Nola Walker and Lindsey Stoddard Cameron would be attending shared governance sessions with finalists for the Vice Provost for Libraries position. Jake, Albert, and Donna will meet with Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Cindy Czajkowski to discuss next steps on the ad hoc committee to look at researcher/scientist issues. ASEC will be considering nominations for the VCRGE search and screen committee on October 5.

Liaison Reports

Albert Muniz reported that the Nominating Committee will hold their first meeting of the semester on September 29. The College of Letters and Science CASI meets during ASEC meeting times. Their recent meeting appears to have been an introductory meeting for new members. Discussion topics included titling and compensation issues, the Administrative Transformation Project, and a search for an Associate Dean for Business Affairs.

Julie Hunt Johnson attended the recent meeting of the Mentoring Committee. The Mentor Match Program has been launched, and the committee talked about challenges in the matching process.

Lindsey Stoddard Cameron reported that the group looking at an academic staff childcare grant met to discuss guidelines for the program and the application process. The group will be talking with the Office of Legal Affairs about records processes and working with UW Foundation on guidance around fundraising.

Business

• ASEC Priorities Discussion

ASEC reviewed potential priorities for the year. They also discussed meeting cadence and greater time for debriefing. To facilitate this, ASEC will start meeting briefly during the week of Assembly meetings.

• October Assembly Agenda – for vote

ASEC discussed feedback on the resolution for an ad hoc committee on ageism. Jaimee Gilford and Lauren Hasselbacher from the Office of Compliance provided thoughts to the committee, based on their office’s role in handling formal investigations on discrimination involving protected classes. They reiterated that if individuals are experiencing a hostile environment based on their age, they can report these cases to the Office of Compliance. They offered feedback in relation to differentiating between ageism and age discrimination, as well as greater specifics to what the committee might be looking at during the course of its work. In consideration of feedback received so far, ASEC decided to postpone action on the resolution until November.  Motion to approve the October Assembly agenda (Walker). Seconded. Approved.

• Topics for Guests

OHR: discussion of morale issue around potential pay plan blockage; types of personnel data review that would be helpful and practical for ad hoc committee on ageism

Meeting adjourned at 4:31 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff