L&S Staff Issues Committee (LSSIC)

This document contains information related to L&S Staff Issues Committee (LSSIC), formerly the Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) & the University Staff Issues Committee (USIC) in the College of Letters & Science, including current members, past issues of interest to the committees and a link to submit topic and ideas you would like the committee to consider.

L&S Staff Issues Committee 

Beginning in 1999, Committees on Staff Issues were established in each school or college. 

The L&S Staff Issues Committee advises the Dean on the formulation and review of policies and procedures concerning the Academic and University Staff members of the College. It also advises the Dean on staff promotional opportunities, participation in department governance, and performance recognition.

The committee includes 12 academic staff members and 8 university staff members and has both elected and appointed members.

Agendas are posted for previous and upcoming meetings. Persons interested in the topics that have been discussed and will be discussed are encouraged to contact an LSSIC member or attend a meeting to make their opinions known.

LSSIC Bylaws

LSSIC Feedback

We welcome your feedback and ideas. If you have suggestions, or topics you’d like the LSSIC to consider, please submit them using the link below. Your input helps inform our work and ensures we are representing the needs and perspectives of academic staff.

 Submit Feedback Here

Academic Staff Committee Members, 2026-2027

Melissa Lindsey (co-chair)
Teaching Professor/Director of Instructional Staff Operations
Term Expires Spring 2028
Mathematics
Alicia Johanning
Academic Advising Assistant Director
Term Expires Spring 2027
Economics
Assistant Dean
Term Expires Spring 2026
L&S Academic Affairs
B25 Bascom Hall
Academic Adviser
Term Expires Spring 2028
Integrative Biology
irviola@wisc.edu

Maria Hartwig
Undergraduate Program Manager
Term Expires Spring 2028
Psychology
mhartwig2@wisc.edu

Nina Valeo Cooke (PDRC chair)
Academic Program Director
Term Expires Spring 2027
Gender and Women's Studies

University Staff Committee Members, 2026-2027

Emma Weimerskirch (co-chair)
Early Career
Term Expires Spring 2028
Administrative Assistant
Chemistry
1101 University Ave
eweimerskirc@wisc.edu

Jane C McCarthy
Non-Exempt Administrative Support, Fiscal & Staff Services Representative
Term Expires Spring 2027
Administrative Assistant II
Art History
Elvehjem Building

Ex-Officios for both committees

Kristin R. Eschenfelder
Interim L&S Dean
College of Letters & Science
105C South Hall
dean@ls.wisc.edu

Lea Aune-Johnson
HR Director
College of Letters & Science
301d South Hall

Tina Nielsen
Associate Dean for Innovation and Strategy
College of Letters & Science
105A South Hall

Issues of Interest to LSSIC

  • HR Design
  • Job promotions in L&S as compared to those in other colleges and units
  • Job security
  • Joint meetings between L&S CASI and the L&S USIC (University Staff Issues Committee)
  • Mandated Furloughs
  • Budget Cuts 
  • Communication with our constituents  
  • Title changes/promotions/rate changes
  • Graduate School reorganization
  • By-laws re-write 
  • How to supervise Academic Staff/Performance reviews
  • Workload
  • Climate
  • Federal Audits of Soft Money Funding for Academic Staff
  • Workload Concerns
  • Surveying Academic Staff to determine issues of note  

For minutes and agendas of past meetings, please see the link below.

See Also


Keywords:
CASI USIC LSSIC shared governance 
Doc ID:
45189
Owned by:
Ali B. in L&S KB
Created:
2014-11-21
Updated:
2026-08-20
Sites:
L&S KB
Information about college mission, governance, administrative organization, and staff.