Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 03-05-2026

Approved 03-19-26

ASEC Agenda

1:00 – 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 5, 2026

53 Bascom Hall; https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97722653207

Members present:  Aaron Crandall, Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Alissa Ewer (chair), Eunsook Jung, Terry Paape, Nicole Senter, Diane Stojanovich, Nola Walker

Guests: Nita Ahuja, Marcelle Haddix, Ruben Mota, Tamara Walker, Kent Weigel

The meeting was called to order at 1:01 p.m.

The minutes of February 26 were approved.

General Reports

ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported on the Operational Excellence Advancement Program (OEAP) Advisory Committee meeting. Committee members received a general update on the three core initiatives. Campus recently published the OEAP website: finadmin.wisc.edu/oeap/. Beginning in March there will be several deep dive sessions open to all members of the campus community. Chair Ewer met with Kathi Kilgore, Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) lobbyist, and Jenny Dahlberg, ASPRO board president, to discuss Assembly Bill 757/Senate Bill 751, relating to the appointment of employees of the Universities of Wisconsin System and faculty governance. In summer 2027, ASPRO will begin meeting with ASEC bimonthly.

Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reported that the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee’s draft job security document is available for ASEC’s review. Feedback is due by March 18 at noon.

Guests: Ruben Mota, ADA Coordinator, Office of Compliance and Tamara Walker, Academic Technology Director, Division of Information Technology

Ruben Mota and Tamara Walker gave an update on the University Digital Accessibility Initiative. This initiative supports campus efforts to comply with the new federal rule for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The federal rule requires public universities’ digital tools and electronic resources to be accessible and goes into effect on April 24. A central resource website is available at: digitalaccessibility.wisc.edu. A digital accessibility website scanning pilot is also in progress.

Guest: Kent Weigel, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs

The RISE Initiative intends for all faculty hiring to be completed prior to the beginning of a permanent chancellor’s tenure. The RISE-AI Collaboration Headquarters (HQ) resides in the Data Science Institute (DSI) under the leadership of DSI Director Kyle Cranmer. RISE-EARTH Collaboration HQ will be housed in the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) under the direction of Chris Kucharik, professor of plant and agroecosystem sciences in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and investigator with the Nelson Institute and WEI. Campus is planning to identify a leader and permanent home for the RISE-THRIVE Collaboration HQ by the end of the spring.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs is currently engaged in a strategic planning process aimed at clarifying its role and services moving forward. A central component of this work is improving communication by identifying gaps and opportunities that will help employees access information more effectively and efficiently.

Guest: Marcelle Haddix, Dean of the School of Education

The School of Education is distinctive in its integration of health, art, and education. When Dean Haddix began her tenure, she analyzed the landscape and led a series of engagements to identify successes and areas for growth. These efforts revealed a desire to strengthen connections across the college. This led to the One School vision, with a focus on equitable support across operations; community building; wellbeing for faculty, staff, and students; and fostering innovation and collaboration for all. This spring the school launched the One School Innovation Fund to encourage faculty, staff, and students to think about areas of innovation collaboratively. The school received 73 applications in its first grant cycle.

Regular engagement with the school community is a top priority. The School of Education held its inaugural State of the School event during which the dean provided updates on the school, including the budget, and heard feedback from staff and faculty. Every two weeks, Dean Haddix shares email updates highlighting her activities, school initiatives, state and federal relations, and upcoming events. She attends department or unit meetings at least once per year and meets with the School of Education Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) when invited. In addition, Dean Haddix hosts a variety of social engagements to connect with students, staff, and faculty.

Guest: Nita Ahuja, Dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health

The School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) launched a strategic plan with support from Deloitte to advance the school’s mission with a focus on both the health system and the university. The plan is currently in development and will align with the chancellor’s forthcoming strategic plan. A central feature of the planning process is broad community engagement, including meaningful involvement of the SMPH CASI.

SMPH hosts faculty and staff meetings two to three times per year, providing regular opportunities for staff to share ideas and feedback. Beyond these gatherings, Dean Ahuja invests considerable time in building relationships with staff, faculty, and students across the school. This approach reflects her belief that understanding organizational culture requires meeting people where they work and listening to their experiences. In addition, the dean’s chief of staff and communication team regularly attend SMPH CASI meetings. She will also meet with the SMPH CASI at least once annually.

Liaison Reports

Nicole Senter reported that the Engineering CASI met with its dean and discussed the school’s strategic plan.

Business

• April Assembly agenda

ASEC considered reports and business items for the Assembly agenda.

• ASEC subcommittee summary reports

ASEC discussed accomplishments outlined in summary reports for its subcommittees: amplifying shared governance, clarifying policy on flexible work arrangements, and reskilling opportunities for academic staff anticipating layoff status. 

• Topics for ASEC meeting guests:

Interim Provost: Campus Planning Committee; U.S. Department of Education negotiated rulemaking on accreditation

AVC and Executive Director, Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub: vision for the Hub; academic staff involvement

Chancellor: key accomplishments and reflections from her time at UW–Madison; priorities and qualities for the next chancellor; what is she most looking forward to as she steps into her new position at Columbia

Meeting adjourned at 3:32 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff