Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 04-23-2026
Approved 04-30-26
ASEC Agenda
1:00 – 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23, 2026
53 Bascom Hall; https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97722653207
Members present: Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Aaron Crandall, Alissa Ewer (chair), Eunsook Jung, Terry Paape, Diane Stojanovich, Nola Walker
Guests: Kelly Conforti Rupp, Barret Elward, Dan Fitch, Lucien Gerondeau, Kristian Knutsen, Kyra Lyons, Karen Massetti-Moran, Patrick Sheehan, James Yonker, Scott Wildman
The meeting was called to order at 1:03 p.m.
General Reports
ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported an update on the digital accessibility rule. The U.S. Department of Justice issued an interim final rule extending the compliance deadline by one year. Campus is currently reviewing the rule and will share additional information as it becomes available. At its final meeting, the Budget Approach Coordinating Committee discussed metrics for monitoring the Budget Approach. The committee’s work will transition to the Campus Budget Committee.
Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reported that Eunsook Jung will represent ASEC at the upcoming shared governance meetings with finalist candidates for the vice provost for enrollment management position. PROFS will host a forum titled “What is the Path Forward for Public Higher Education?” on Wednesday, May 6, at noon in the Wisconsin Idea Room in the School of Education building.
Liaison Reports
Nola Walker reported that the Campus Planning Committee held its last meeting of the academic year. Several topics were discussed, including the 2027-2033 six-year capital budget plan and an update on the campus framework plan.
Aaron Crandall reported that the School of Medicine and Public Health Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) met with their dean and discussed a possible name change.
Diane Stojanovich reported that the Universities of Wisconsin Academic Staff Representatives met with Regent President Amy Bogost and Regent Vice President Kyle Weatherly to answer questions following the announcement of Jay Rothman’s dismissal. The University Academic Planning Council approved a new Center for Botany, in the Department of Biology.
Hanna Blazel reported that the Extension CASI discussed organizational change management. The Law School CASI met with their dean and discussed ACT 15 and CASI elections. They also inquired about resources for students from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
Chair Ewer reported that the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) CASI discussed opportunities for having Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska attend a future meeting. OVCR HR discussed the unit’s restructuring. The Nominating Committee approved several candidates for recommendation to committees.
Business
- May Assembly agenda
ASEC reviewed the draft agenda. Vice Chancellor Reesor will give a presentation at the May Assembly meeting.
- Topics for ASEC meeting guests
Dave Schroeder: UWPD Police Advisory Council
Executive Director of Wisconsin Public Media: strategic priorities; staff interactions and input; CASI engagement
VCFA: change management framework
- Town halls
ASEC discussed the possibility of hosting town halls next academic year. ASEC formed a working group that includes Hanna Blazel, Alissa Ewer, and Nola Walker to explore this opportunity.
Guests: Kelly Conforti Rupp, Assistant Vice Provost for Career and Leadership Development, Office of the Provost and James Yonker, Institutional Policy Analyst III, Data, Academic Planning, and Institutional Research (DAPIR)
In spring 2022, the UW–Madison Staff Climate Survey was conducted. It was the first campus-wide staff survey. The results are available at: https://provost.wisc.edu/staff-climate-survey-2022/.
Historically, campus has approached employee surveys as large, infrequent endeavors. These types of surveys yield a lot of information and detailed feedback. However, results take a long time to produce, staffing is difficult, and, because of the wide variety of topics covered, it is not always clear what should be done with the results.
Looking forward, campus is in the process of developing a pulse survey model. Employees would be surveyed more frequently, but the surveys would be short: 3-4 questions on a specific topic. This model allows for flexibility to ask topical questions in a timely way. Results would be produced faster, and the findings would be easier to address. Survey fatigue is a concern but would hopefully be mitigated by the short length of the surveys.
Guests: Patrick Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer and Karen Massetti-Moran, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of Human Resources
ASEC, CHRO Sheehan, and Deputy CHRO Massetti-Moran had a discussion about the use of acting and interim appointments. Acting and interim appointments are used to support continuity of operations while allowing the University time to conduct a deliberate search process. An acting appointment should be used when filling in for an employee that is on a leave of absence. An interim appointment should be used when the position is vacant. OHR is often consulted when an acting or interim appointment is made, but decision making resides with the appointing authority.
OHR is actively working with campus leadership to consider options for central funds for compensation adjustments.
Guest: John Zumbrunnen, Provost
It is not expected that the change in UW System leadership will impact the timing of the UW–Madison chancellor search.
Provost Zumbrunnen discussed priority four of the strategic framework: cultivate a culture of excellence to ensure a resilient future. The language was deliberately chosen to ensure it is people centered. He is thinking about how the strategic framework might help us think in a coordinated way about all of the operational improvements happening. He is also interested in thinking about how we can commit ourselves to excellence in leadership and supervision.
Meeting adjourned at 3:31 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff