Approved 11-30-23

ASEC Minutes

2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Thursday, November 9, 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: Jenna Alsteen, Lesley Fisher, Bill Karpus, Beth Meyerand, Mallory Musolf, Nick Sigmund, Susan Thibeault, Scott Wildman

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.

The minutes of November 2 were approved.

General Reports

Albert Muniz, ASEC Chair, reported on the Fall CASI Session held on November 9. Several CASIs were represented, and there was a good discussion among the CASIs on best practices around several topics, including professional development and communication. Albert and Jake will be meeting with Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs John Zumbrunnen on Monday to hear more about the School/College Instructional Leaders group’s discussions regarding instructional titles and how that may impact ASEC’s discussions around professorial titles.

Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff, reported that the planning team for this year’s Academic Staff Institute convened. This year’s ASI will be held on March 14. A first reading of the proposal to move the reporting line for the Dean of the Graduate School took place at the November 6 Faculty Senate meeting. Questions largely revolved around ensuring that the connection between the Grad School and the research enterprise would remain strong. ASEC will be reviewing nominations for the scientist/researcher working group on November 16. ASEC will not be meeting on December 21 or December 28.

Liaison Reports

Donna Cole reported on the Board of Regents meeting, which she attended as a part of the Universities of Wisconsin Reps group. The Regents discussed the $32 million proposal for increased workforce development and voted unanimously to approve it.

Stephanie Elkins reported on the November 7 meeting of the Professional Development and Recognition Committee. They will present their annual report to the Assembly in December. They also discussed the Lillian Tong Award, which will recognize instructors in STEMM and will alternate between academic staff and faculty each year. The committee has also received a significant increase in professional development grant proposals this cycle.

Terry Paape reported on the November 8 meeting of the Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee. The committee reviewed three policies from OHR as part of its ongoing policy review. They will be holding a special meeting later in the month to review their annual report to the Assembly.

Guests: Bill Karpus, Dean of the Graduate School; Susan Thibeault, Chair of the University Committee (Dean of the Graduate School Reporting Line)

In the summer, discussions started about changing the direct reporting line of the Dean of the Graduate School from the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (VCRGE) to the Provost. The Grad School Dean would maintain a dotted line to the VCRGE, which would be renamed Vice Chancellor for Research. The Dean of the Graduate School position was created almost ten years ago. Since that time, there have been a number of academic issues identified that are involved with this position. These issues are not addressed by the VCRGE and would be better suited in the Provost’s organization. There have been discussions with administration and several stakeholder groups about this change, including the University Research Council, the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee, and the Graduate Student Advisory Board. Dean Karpus and the University Committee are hosting two town halls about the proposal in November, and the hope is to have a vote on the proposal at the December Faculty Senate meeting. In putting together the proposal, we have found that a direct reporting line to the Provost is a common practice among our peer institutions. Deeper engagement with the Provost Office is also essential in the area of program review. The Graduate School collects a great deal of data that could be better integrated into those processes at the department-level as well as the school/college/division-level. The Vice Chancellor for Research will still work closely with the Dean of the Graduate School in the administration of WARF funds. If the change is approved, there will be work to determine where functions such as HR, finance, and IT, which are currently shared between OVCRGE and the Grad School, would take place with the new reporting line.

Guest: Beth Meyerand, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs

Vice Provost Meyerand talked about ASEC’s discussion on a possible working group on professorial titles. She is supportive of this idea and is meeting with Provost Isbell on November 22 to discuss further. Such a working group could look at how the titles are used in schools and colleges, what potential barriers might exist, and how titles are being used demographically. In thinking about members, the group should include people who hold the title as well as a data analyst.

Following up on the HIB working group, there have been discussions about a unified policy for campus on addressing hostile and intimidating behavior. Any other initiatives are on hold until a unified policy is approved. Vice Provost Meyerand has also talked with OHR about making more resources available about dealing with difficult colleagues and making a decision tree on possible reactions based on what kinds of behaviors are happening.

As a result of feedback received from the Staff Climate Survey, OHR is developing a webpage for more leadership development opportunities. Assistant Vice Provost Kelly Rupp will be including this element in process conversations for the next survey.

Business                                

• December Assembly Agenda

Director of Transportation Services Patrick Kass will be presenting at the December meeting. Jake is confirming whether or not the Ombuds can present in December or February. The Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee will be reviewing an ASPP change to their committee membership that will potentially be ready for the meeting in December.

Meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Jake Smith, Secretary of the Academic Staff