Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 09-24-2026
Approved 10-01-26
ASEC Agenda
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
260 Bascom Hall; Zoom
Members present: Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Molly Censky, Alissa Ewer (chair), Eunsook Jung, Nancy Kujak-Ford, and Nola Walker
Members absent: Aaron Crandall and Diane Stojanovich
Guests: Karen Massetti-Moran, Emily Reynolds, Scott Wildman, John Zumbrunnen
The meeting was called to order at 1:31 p.m.
Motion to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss nominations to the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Search and Screen Committee (Blazel). Seconded. Approved.
Motion to reconvene in open session (Barajas). Seconded. Approved.
Business
- Nominations – for vote
Motion to nominate Annie Anderson, Jennifer Blazek, Tera Holtz, Michelle Miller, and Martha Reck to the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Search and Screen Committee (Jung). Seconded. Approved.
Automatic Consent Business
The minutes of September 10 were approved.
Guest: John Zumbrunnen, Provost
Provost Zumbrunnen emphasized the value of assessing hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) processes and addressing workplace culture and conflict more holistically.
Community Commitments (strategicframework.wisc.edu/community-commitments/) remain a key part of the campus strategic framework. Professor and Special Advisor to the Chancellor Percival Matthews will continue implementation efforts this year, with a focus on translating the commitments into practical actions across campus.
General Reports
ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported that Organizational Career Development Specialist Christopher East in the Office of Human Resources (OHR) contacted ASEC seeking clarification of the Resolution Acknowledging the Challenges Facing Academic Staff and Urging Collaborative Leadership Support Through Shared Governance (Academic Staff Assembly Document #874). Chair Ewer will respond to the inquiry and provide examples that help illustrate the academic staff perspective. Next week Chair Ewer will meet with representatives from faculty governance, the Graduate School, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and OHR to discuss HIB. Chair Ewer invited topics from ASEC for the upcoming Big Ten Collaboration on Staff Advocacy meeting.
Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reported that academic staff governance will have a table at the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair on October 8 from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. in Varsity Hall at Union South. ASEC, Nominating Committee, and the Secretary of the Academic Staff office will staff the table.
Liaison Reports
Molly Censky reported that the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee requested ASEC elevate opportunities related to the Central Compensation Fund (CCF) process, including earlier communication to employees.
Hanna Blazel reported that the Librarians’ Assembly [Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI)] has new leadership in place. They will continue work on their goal to address librarian title changes while ensuring meaningful pathways for professional growth and advancement.
Hanna Blazel reported that the Law School CASI meeting included a report from the Dean on the state of the Law School. The report highlighted efforts to address ongoing budget reductions.
Chair Ewer reported that the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) CASI is reviewing a rubric used to evaluate professional development grant applications.
Guest: Karen Massetti-Moran, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of Human Resources
The Fiscal Year 2027 CCF memo was released on September 23 and outlines an allocation of more than $12.5 million in central funding. This includes $7.5 million for base-building compensation adjustments and $5 million for one-time employee performance bonuses. While the allocation is lower than in previous years, it reflects the realities of a leaner budget environment. This year the allocation was divided by employee category in response to feedback that funds previously had not been distributed equitably across employee groups. The memo also emphasizes consideration for market competitiveness, parity, and lower-paid employee populations. The Compensation Center for Excellence (CCOE) prepared resources to support the HR community and is available to meet with divisions to review compensation data. A single effective date for base adjustments and bonuses has been established for this year’s CCF cycle: November 29. Any approved base adjustments or bonuses will be reflected in the December 24 paycheck. OHR’s goal is to promote greater consistency for CCF across all units on campus. In Spring 2027, the CCOE team will provide a review of the CCF exercise. A road show, including shared governance groups, is anticipated to communicate the results of this review.
The New Employee Welcome Center was established to create a centralized, one-stop onboarding experience for new employees to complete all compliance related requirements and receive employment support in a single location. Located at 21. N Park, the center has served 791 new hires since its launch and early feedback has been positive. The program remains in a pilot phase, with a long-term vision of additional welcome center locations across campus.
Regarding the Operational Excellence Advancement Program and LinkUW, the relationship between OHR and divisional HR continues to evolve, with an emphasis on collaboration and communication. Divisional HR representatives continue to provide feedback on LinkUW. Leadership values this direct feedback and finds it useful for understanding how the program is functioning and identifying areas for improvement.
The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources recently published an article on turnover in the higher education workforce. UW-Madison turnover rates are stable and consistent with national averages.
Business
- October Assembly Agenda
Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska is no longer available to present. The OVCR plans to identify a representative to present in her place.
ASEC discussed Assembly member feedback on the resolution. The Office of the Secretary of the Academic Staff continues to collect feedback and will provide all received feedback received by September 24 to ASEC.
- Topics for next ASEC meeting guests
UWPD Chief: unit priorities and initiatives; emerging safety trends; surveillance tools
VCFA: OEAP/OpEx; Budget Approach
Meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff