Approved 04-14-25

ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY MEETING MINUTES

272 Bascom Hall

Monday, March 10, 2025

3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Provost Charles Isbell called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m.

Guests: Gloria Hawkins and Robin Kurtz, Ombuds Office (Annual Report)

Robin presented the 2023-2024 Ombuds Report. The Ombuds Office provides a confidential, safe space for all UW–Madison employees, including faculty, academic staff, university staff, post-docs, and graduate students, to address workplace concerns. While ombuds do not serve as advocates, they offer resources, options, and strategies to address concerns.

The Ombuds Office continues to experience an increase in the number of visitors each year. In fiscal year 2024, there were 389 visitors. The top three issues the Ombuds support employees with relate to evaluative relationships (i.e., employee-supervisor), peer and colleague relationships, and career progression and development. Beginning fiscal year 2025, the office added mediation services.

Guest: April McHugh, Director and Career Counselor, Employee Career Counseling

April shared an overview of services provided by the Employee Career Counseling Program at UW–Madison. Career counseling is a collaborative and supportive process designed to help employees develop meaningful careers. Services are confidential and free to employees. Following employment separation, individuals can utilize the program for six months. In addition to one-on-one appointments, they offer workplace presentations and organize a career development community of practice. They also have self-service resources: DIY career planning, career toolkit, self-guided module, professional development information, and campus resources. These resources are available at https://hr.wisc.edu/career-counseling/. To schedule a confidential one-on-one appointment contact: EmployeeCareerCounseling@wisc.edu.

Automatic Consent Business

The Academic Staff Assembly minutes of Monday, February 10, 2025, were approved.

Reports

ASEC Chair Albert Muniz presented the ASEC report. Albert thanked ASEC members for all their work to support academic staff. ASEC elections are live. The election will close on March 12. Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America, will visit campus on March 12 for a discussion on bridging identities and strengthening pluralism with Chancellor Mnookin. The Spring 2025 Academic Staff Professional Development Grant Program applications are due March 17.

Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) Board President Jenny Dahlberg presented the ASPRO report. Jenny encouraged academic staff to visit with ASPRO leadership and lobbyist Kathi Kilgore during the networking session at the Academic Staff Institute on Tuesday, March 18. Members of the ASPRO Board will meet with Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman on March 14.

Assembly Standing Committee Slates (ASA #843)

Kate Hattery-Groskopf, member of the Nominating Committee and Assembly District #545 Representative, presented the slates for the Academic Staff Assembly Standing Committees. No nominations were added to any of the slates from the floor. The petition process for adding candidates to the slates will be sent out after the Assembly meeting.

Nominating Committee Slate (ASA #844)

Andrew Lokuta, ASEC Member, presented the slate for the Nominating Committee. No nominations were added to the slate from the floor. The petition process for adding candidates to the slate will be sent out after the Assembly meeting.

Resolution Urging Implementation of a Separate, Paid Funeral or Bereavement Leave Category for UW–Madison Employees (ASA #839)

Andrew Turner, Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee co-chair and Assembly District #472 Representative, moved approval of ASA Document #839. Motion seconded. Approved.

Provost Report

Provost Isbell reported on federal activities impacting higher education. At the February Assembly, it was shared that Wisconsin was among 22 states that filed a lawsuit pertaining to the NIH 15% funding cap on indirect costs. A temporary restraining order was granted, and it remains in place. On February 14, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” outlining a broad set of university operational aspects that the new administration considers improper under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, and other relevant authorities. In response to the letter, campus charged a workgroup to assess all of our existing operations and to make recommendations about potential adjustments, modifications, or changes that may be needed. The workgroup focused on assessing current activities under existing law and provided some preliminary reactions. They believe the vast majority of campus programs and operations comply with the best understanding of current law. They also believe there are a limited number of programs and activities that require further review and likely some additional changes. Campus leadership will update affected units individually about any required changes. The provost reminded the Assembly that all information and updates regarding federal activities can be found at https://federalrelations.wisc.edu/.

The Visioning Committee continues its work to create initial concepts and develop recommendations for campus’ next strategic framework. They will be seeking feedback from the campus community to help inform and shape the framework. There will be a campuswide survey and discussion sessions with the campus community in April. Through these mechanisms, academic staff will have opportunities to engage with the Visioning Committee process. The provost encouraged the Assembly to participate in the process to ensure their voices are heard and represented.

Devesh Ranjan was selected as the next dean of the college of engineering. He will start on June 16. Brent Plisch was named UW–Madison Police Department chief of police. The chief information officer finalist interviews are in progress and the associate vice provost and senior director of strategic consulting search is underway.

Meeting adjourned at 5:07 pm.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, Secretary of the Academic Staff