Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 02-05-2026

Approved 02-19-26

ASEC Agenda

1:00 – 3:30 p.m., Thursday, February 5, 2026

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97722653207

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

Guests: Jenny Dahlberg, Barret Elward, Dan Fitch, Jonathan Levine, Brent Plisch, Emily Reynolds, Kent Weigel, Scott Wildman, Michael Zenz

The meeting was called to order at 1:02 p.m.

The minutes of January 29 were approved.

General Reports

ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer shared campus resources in response to a case of measles on campus. University Health Services has a webpage on measles information and updates: www.uhs.wisc.edu/measles/. The Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring has campus guidance for instructors on measles: ctlm.wisc.edu/2026/02/02/campus-guidance-to-instructors-on-measles/. Chair Ewer reminded ASEC that subcommittee summary reports are due February 19.

Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reported that Richard Barajas will represent ASEC at the upcoming shared governance meetings with finalist candidates for the dean of the School of Nursing position. 

Business

• Topics for guests:

Interim Provost: Spring Academic Leadership Breakfast

Law School Dean: Law school strategic priorities; CASI engagement; staff interactions and input

VCFA: OpEx Advancement Program; support impacts for recent RISE hires; Budget Approach update

Guest: Kent Weigel, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs (VPFSA)

Finalist interviews for the provost position will take place in late February and early March.

Since the unified Hostile and Intimidating Behavior (HIB) Policy went into effect, related concerns and consultations continue to arise, and the overall number of HIB cases has declined. As the policy has been implemented, operational considerations have emerged around communication, timing, role clarity, and consistency across units. The Ombuds Office has seen an increase in cases, primarily involving evaluative relationships. Ombuds also offers mediation. There is concern about the lack of required training, especially for supervisors, as well as ongoing challenges addressing problematic behavior that does not meet the threshold for HIB.

Campus is exploring an approach to staff climate surveys, including the possibility of pulse surveys delivered on a consistent schedule. The goal is to generate continual, real‑time data that feeds into a dashboard, enabling timely insights and comparisons across units. The surveys would include a core set of standard measures, with the option to add questions selected from a broader question bank. VPFSA Weigel recommended ASEC meet with Kelly Conforti Rupp in the VPFSA office and James Yonker from Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research (DAPIR) to discuss survey planning and development.

Guest: Jonathan Levine, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM)

Dean Levine had his first meeting with ASEC. Chair Ewer provided a high-level overview of academic staff governance on campus, including the role of ASEC. Dean Levine discussed SVM’s strategic priorities across the areas of student learning, patient care, research, outreach, and organizational health.

The school plans to deploy a school-wide climate survey. School-wide meetings were increased from four to eight per year. Dean Levine also emphasized a leadership approach centered on visibility and presence. He has found that regularly walking through different workspaces, engaging with individuals, is an effective method for gaining meaningful insights. Dean Levine also continues the tradition of monthly social gatherings to help build connections across the school. There are direct opportunities for staff to engage with the dean, including the dean’s executive meetings. SVM Committee on Academic Staff Issues leadership is on the executive committee to elevate staff issues.

The school continues to see an increase in applications to its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. An increased shortage of veterinarians is also projected. SVM leadership is actively thinking about growing space for education and how to better serve rural areas.

Guest: Brent Plisch, University of Wisconsin–Madison Police Department Chief of Police

Chief Plisch discussed surveillance on campus, including the use of Flock Safety cameras. The UW–Madison Police Department (UWPD) has a webpage regarding Flock cameras on campus: uwpd.wisc.edu/data-policies-resources/flock-cameras-at-uw-madison/. There are eight Flock cameras on campus. These are automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras that capture license plates and vehicle characteristics. These cameras are not the same as video surveillance and do not use facial recognition technology. They are still cameras only and are not monitored in real time.  The cameras are used to assist with criminal investigations and not for immigration enforcement or reproductive health enforcement. In the eight months of having flock cameras, they have helped solve dozens of serious crimes.

Meeting adjourned at 3:34 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff