Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 08-20-2026
Approved 09-03-26
ASEC Agenda
Thursday, August 20, 2026, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
260 Bascom Hall; Zoom
Members present: Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Molly Censky, Aaron Crandall, Alissa Ewer (chair), Eunsook Jung, Nancy Kujak-Ford, Diane Stojanovich, and Nola Walker
Guests: Daniel Gaona, Nathan Jung, Kelly Petersen, Sara Tate-Pederson, Fran Vavrus, Scott Wildman
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.
Motion to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss nominations to the Area Review Committee: Biological/Medical Sciences and Labor Codes and Licensing Advisory Committee and appointments to the Campus Planning Committee, Campus Transportation Committee, Committee for Women in the University, Communications Committee, Immigration and International Issues Committee, LGBTQ+ Affairs Committee, Mentoring Committee, Professional Development and Recognition Committee, Rec Well Board, and University Academic Planning Council (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.
Motion to reconvene in open session (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.
Business
- Appointments and nominations – for vote
Motion to appoint Nola Walker to the Campus Planning Committee; Ben Heidke to the Campus Transportation Committee; Yulissa Chavez Tena to the Committee for Women in the University; Laurie Dennis to the Communications Committee; Nura Said to the Immigration and International Issues Committee; Sara Solovey to the LGBTQ+ Affairs Committee; Abram Hopp to the Mentoring Committee; Mike Hollander to the Professional Development and Recognition Committee; John Parrish to the Rec Well Board; and Diane Stojanovich to the University Academic Planning Council (Kujak-Ford). Seconded. Approved.
Motion to nominate Michelle Turek to the Area Review Committee: Biological/Medical Sciences and Ally Brovelli to the Labor Codes and Licensing Advisory Committee (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.
Automatic Consent Business
The minutes of July 23 and August 5 were approved.
Guest: Fran Vavrus, Vice Provost and Dean of the International Division
Dean Vavrus provided an overview of the division and organizational structure. The division includes approximately 100 staff members. Most are academic staff, with the remainder consisting of university staff and faculty members holding partial appointments. Dean Vavrus highlighted a number of programs including the WIScholars honors program, Scan Design Foundation, Peace Corps, and the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS). IRIS has experienced significant impacts from federal funding changes. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a grant program similar to programs that were eliminated last year. Seven of the nine IRIS area study centers submitted proposals.
To ensure alignment, development of the campus internationalization framework was delayed until the campus strategic framework was finalized. The internationalization framework for 2026-2030 was finalized and renamed “Global, Together.” Global, Together includes four goals: enhance the UW–Madison student experience through globally-informed teaching and learning; spark innovative international collaborations; expand international opportunities across the state of Wisconsin; and advance international alumni engagement.
International Division leadership is exploring ways to better recognize the contributions of academic staff. The number of International Division Staff Excellence Awards has increased from two to three. There is a commitment to developing additional methods to acknowledge and celebrate the work and impact of academic staff.
Dean Vavrus has an open-door policy to support staff and create a welcoming environment. Each semester, she meets with the division’s Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) co-chairs to discuss committee priorities and regularly attends CASI social events. The division provides a modest budget to support CASI initiatives and activities. The division’s all staff meetings now include time for CASI-led engagement and communication.
Guest: Daniel Gaona, Chair, College of Engineering Committee Advocating for Staff Interests (CASI)
Chair Gaona provided a summary of the College of Engineering CASI’s five-year self-study report. Staff recognition and appreciation activities were discussed including Kudos from CASI (casi.engr.wisc.edu/kudos-from-casi) and a staff appreciation lunch. The committee’s name reflects inclusion of all staff in the College of Engineering and greater alignment with the committee’s purpose. It was noted that approximately 8–12 individuals typically run each year to serve on the CASI, with an average voter participation rate of 22% over the past several years.
Guests: Patrick Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer and Karen Massetti-Moran, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of Human Resources (OHR)
OHR provided an update on its leadership structure. This summer, OHR hired Alisha Arnold as the executive director of total rewards and Carmen Romero-González as the executive director of employee experience and culture. In addition to the recent hires, Sue Fritts serves as the executive director of talent management. Together these leadership roles will play a key role in advancing OHR’s strategic priorities and enhancing the employee experience.
Regarding the Academic Staff Assembly’s Resolution Urging Implementation of a Separate, Paid Funeral or Bereavement Leave Category for UW–Madison Employees, OHR is exploring this issue. The current campus bereavement leave policy (UW-5057) outlines the leave options available to employees in bereavement-related situations. Any proposal to establish a dedicated paid bereavement leave benefit should be evaluated within the context of existing leave structures, approval processes, and peer institution benchmarking data. UW–Madison’s robust sick leave benefits are also an important consideration in assessing potential enhancements to bereavement leave. Additional analysis is needed to determine whether a policy change should be pursued as a new benefit or as an expansion of existing leave provisions.
ASEC shared its priorities for 2026-27 with OHR leadership, including opportunities for collaboration on this year’s Academic Staff Chats addressing career progression and promotion and to support campus’s Strategic Framework Priority 4: Cultivate a culture of excellence to ensure a resilient future.
General Reports
ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported on the recent Ad Hoc Committee on Instructional Workload meeting. The committee reviewed school and college instructional workload implementation plans and identified potential inconsistencies with campus policy on minimum teaching workload expectations. Chair Ewer reviewed the community norms for 2026-27 that were established at ASEC’s August 5 planning meeting.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Transportation Services Patrick Kass confirmed the reduced cost parking threshold will be adjusted with the recent pay plan increases. He confirmed their system has been updated to reflect the adjustment. This matter addresses a concern discussed at ASEC’s July 23 meeting that some employees who had previously been eligible for reduced parking rates exceeded the eligibility threshold as a result of pay plan increases.
A workgroup has been formed to guide the university’s application to the Age-Friendly Global University Network. The group will begin meeting and advancing this effort in the fall.
Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reminded ASEC about the CASI toolkit resource to help support their liaison roles with the CASIs across campus.
Liaison Reports
Aaron Crandall reported that the Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee discussed policies they want to review for the year, including Academic Staff Policies and Procedures Chapter 10 – Performance Reviews.
Chair Ewer reported that the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research CASI discussed ongoing recruitments for three new associate vice chancellor positions and a chief of staff position. The implementation of faculty fellows will be paused while disciplinary representation is evaluated. The CASI continues to develop a co-chair leadership model.
Business
- September Assembly Agenda
Vice Chancellor Rob Cramer will chair the September Assembly meeting. ASEC discussed presenting a resolution for a first reading at the meeting. The resolution would incorporate themes from feedback gathered from the Academic Staff Assembly last spring. ASEC will approve the agenda at its next meeting.
- Committee on Academic Staff Issues subcommittee update
ASEC reviewed a feedback form that will go out to CASI leadership for input on the School, College, and Division Committees on Academic Staff Issues policy (UW-730). The form will be distributed to CASI leadership next week.
- Assembly resolution resources
ASEC reviewed a document on creating a resolution. The document will be incorporated into the existing Assembly resources on the Office of the Secretary of the Academic Staff website.
- Topics for next ASEC meeting guests
Provost: academic leadership summit; dean five-year reviews; instructional workload
Dean and Director of the Division of Extension: strategic priorities; staff interactions and input; CASI engagement; career progression and promotion; federal funding; Budget Approach – Wisconsin Idea Task Force
Meeting adjourned at 4:06 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff