Approved 09-26-24

ASEC Minutes

1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, September 19, 2024

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98598259734

Members Present: Richard Barajas, Aaron Crandall, Andrew Lokuta, Albert Muniz (chair), Terry Paape, Nicole Senter, Diane Stojanovich, Nola Walker

Members Absent: Alissa Ewer

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.

The minutes of September 5 were approved.

General Reports

Albert Muniz, ASEC Chair, reported on the recent meeting between ASEC leadership and Chief Human Resources Officer, Patrick Sheehan. They discussed the position cap and challenges over expansion of staff support in high need areas on campus. Albert also shared concerns brought to ASEC regarding the College of Letters and Science recent announcement of implementing a shared services model. It is understood that the aim is to be more strategic around staffing to ensure services do not suffer when individuals go on leave, retire, and/or move on from a position. However, concerns have been raised about impacts to staff shifting to another unit within the college. Albert also reported on the Big Ten Collaboration for Staff Advocacy Quarterly Meeting. Campus representatives each shared current initiatives impacting staff and discussed topics around enrollment and other budget impacts, workplace wellness and flexibility including leave programs, childcare options, and remote work.

Mallory Musolf, Secretary of the Academic Staff, reported that the Assembly Skills Workshop will be held virtually on September 30 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mallory also shared that the Ad Hoc Study Group on the Black Community Experience at UW–Madison completed their work and released their final report. Academic staff governance will have a table at the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair on October 8 from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. ASEC and the Secretary of the Academic Staff office will staff the table.

Liaison Reports

Richard Barajas reported that the Nursing Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) had their first meeting of the year. They determined committee leadership and are organizing a staff book read.

Aaron Crandall reported the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and School of Education CASIs both had their kick-off meetings. The CALS CASI welcomed several new members and presented on the role of the CASI. The School of Education CASI discussed one of their primary goals is to meet with the new dean this semester.

Nicole Senter reported the College of Engineering CASI talked about challenges with parking and are working to push for a change in how parking is currently allocated. The School of Medicine and Public Health CASI recently met with the Office of Strategic Consulting to create a five-year strategic plan. They also discussed having the dean participate in CASI meetings.

Nola Walker reported the campus planning committee meeting provided a committee overview. There was also a presentation of an assessment underway to evaluate the condition of campus facilities to help determine the prioritization of repairs and needed upgrades.

Business

• ASEC Subcommittee Report Out

The morale and climate subcommittee (Richard, Alissa Ewer, and Andrew Lokuta) is planning for the fall to offer feedback to OHR on the new employee welcome center and develop a list of questions for relevant ASEC guests around remote work and other topics addressed at the ASEC retreat. The spring semester will focus on a review of the resolution on improving academic staff workplace conditions and morale considering newer climate data. The engagement and outreach subcommittee (Albert, Nola, and Terry Paape) are interested in understanding the landscape of shared governance and are in the process of developing a survey to assess the landscape. The subcommittee is also planning social activities aimed at enhancing engagement with the academic staff assembly and academic staff at-large. The professional development subcommittee (Aaron, Nicole, and Diane Stojanovich) discussed several ideas for implementation, including exploration of formalizing tuition reimbursement for staff centrally, addition of communities of practice for job areas identified in the standard job description library, developing a list of subject matter experts for job areas, and the possibility of a job rotation/shadow program for existing employees to gain skills that would help them move into a desired position.

Recessed at 2:00 p.m.

Reconvened at 2:10 p.m.

Business

• Bereavement Leave Policy Discussion

An assembly representative and alternate brought forward the idea of paid leave for bereavement or funerals for the academic staff assembly to consider as an issue this year. Campus does not provide this currently, although other types of leave can be used. Several peer institutions provide this benefit to employees. Albert will connect the representative and alternate with the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee and Personnel, Policies, and Procedures Committee to explore this topic further, including the possibility of a resolution.

• October Assembly Agenda

ASEC reviewed the Assembly agenda and will vote to approve it at the October 3^rd meeting.

• Nomination and Appointment Discussion

ASEC discussed current processes and practices for nominations and appointments.

• Topics for next ASEC meeting (September 26th) guests:

VPSA: recently published enrollment numbers and impacts to student services; reactions to student focused areas of the Ad Hoc Study Group on the Black Community Experience at UW-Madison report, including the recommendations; update on staff position supporting students impacted by war violence and displacement, how are students impacted in this area supported, how are the staff supporting these students being supported; supporting students and their health: communication around attending classes when testing covid positive, protocols for managing covid in the resident halls, lack of timely resources for students experiencing mental health challenges

VPFSA: wisdom for the incoming VPFSA; opportunities for academic staff from her perspective; update on HIB; opportunities for Academic Staff Chats

Meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, Secretary of the Academic Staff