Approved 04-25-24

ASEC Minutes

2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2024

53 Bascom Hall

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99974309306?pwd=YWJDaVBJdmtLVDdUUlM4VmtvQjhTUT09

Members Present: Donna Cole; Alissa Ewer; Julie Hunt Johnson; Stephanie Jones; Albert Muniz, chair; Terry Paape; Lindsey Stoddard Cameron; Nola Walker

Guests: David Berland, Charles Isbell, Becky Jacobs, Patrick Kass, Scott Wildman

The meeting was called to order at 2:01 p.m.

The minutes of April 4 and April 11 were approved.

General Reports

Lesley Fisher, Interim Secretary of the Academic Staff, reported that the Office of Finance and Administration announced a new strategic plan. The Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee has drafted a plain-language job security document and asked ASEC for feedback.

Liaison Reports

Donna Cole reported that the work of the Secretary of the Academic Staff Search and Screen Committee is moving forward. Donna also reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Age in the Workplace started meeting.

Lindsey Stoddard Cameron reported that the Campus Planning Committee discussed the planning process and how it should be managed in the next planning cycle.

Lesley Fisher reported that the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences CASI election process is in progress, and they voted to approve revisions to their bylaws.

Nola Walker reported that the Librarians’ Assembly is planning engagement sessions with staff.

Julie Hunt Johnson reported that the Mentoring Committee is planning their year-end event and is preparing to collect feedback on the Mentor Match Program.

Guest: Charles Isbell, Provost

The process to determine graduate stipends is market driven. We are trying to be competitive with our peer set when normalized for the cost of living. The university sets the minimum stipend, but departments can set stipends above the minimum.

The provost approved the charges for the ad hoc committees on academic staff professorial titles. ASEC hopes the committees will have findings by the end of the calendar year.

The provost discussed engaging remote staff. Units across campus handle this in different ways, and this continues to be a topic of discussion at Deans Council.

Recessed at 3:01pm.

Reconvened at 3:11pm.

Motion to Convene in Closed Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to Discuss Appointment to the Ad Hoc Committee on Age in the Workplace (Cole). Seconded. Approved.

Motion to Reconvene in Open Session (Stoddard Cameron). Seconded. Approved.

Business

• Appointment – for vote

Motion to appoint Peter Kleppin to the Ad Hoc Committee on Age in the Workplace (Paape). Seconded. Approved.

• Universities of Wisconsin Reps Council Policy Prioritization

Universities of Wisconsin asked the Academic Staff Representatives Council which policies are most important to their constituencies. The Representatives Council came up with a list of policies they believe to be most important, and themes related to those policies. They asked executive committees from each campus for feedback, which they will discuss at their next meeting.

Guest: Patrick Kass, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Transportation Services

Following a recommendation from the Campus Transportation Committee, the parking program will remain the same next academic year. The threshold for the reduced cost parking program will increase, but there will be no increase in permit rates. Transportation Services is also looking into some off-campus parking opportunities.

Assistant Vice Chancellor Kass and ASEC discussed opportunities for solar panels on parking garages.

Business

• ASEC Chair/Vice Chair Election Procedure

ASEC discussed the chair and vice chair election procedure. Nominations for chair and vice chair will open next week.

• May Assembly Agenda

ASEC reviewed the May Assembly agenda.

• Topics for Guests

Provost: hiring and raises for institutional vs soft money positions; updates on AI task force; RISE initiatives

CDO: EDIB strategic planning process; professional development; REEL Change final report; DDEEA metrics on the success of their work; data related to retention and career progression of mid-career BIPOC employees; DDEEA employment structure

VCFA: changes to policy necessitated by transition to Workday; update on hiring cap; assessment of RAMP launch

Meeting adjourned at 4:11 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Lesley Fisher, Interim Secretary of the Academic Staff