December 9, 2025-University Staff Committee (USC)-Minutes

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Time:  10:00 a.m.
Location:  via TEAMS 

Present:  J. Almquist, A. Dempsey Fischer, G. Dukes, L. Eastman, T. Nation, K. Premeau, K. Valerius

  1. Call to Order-The meeting was called to order at 10:01 a.m.
  2. Approval of November 11, 2025 Minutes-The minutes were approved with one correction on the spelling of Human Resources Director Fessahaye’s name.
  3. Chair update-
    1. Chair Dukes transitions to retirement A.  Dempsey Fischer will be shadowing her and learning the role of Chair of USC and US Senate until elections are finished in Spring 2026.
    2. December 10, 2025 is the Chancellor’s holiday brunch and charity fundraiser for campus.  Everyone is encouraged to attend.
    3. If anyone has topics or projects they wish to work on please send them to A. Dempsey Fischer.
  4. Member reports
    1. Grievance Committee-One Grievance that the committee heard in Fall of 2025 was appealed to the Board of Regents in Madison in December 2025.  The Board reviewed it.  Grievance Committee Chair Dempsey Fischer will contact Vice Chancellor Van Harpen’s office to see what the outcome was and how it affects campus moving forward.
    2. Grievance Committee will be reviewing documents and procedures in the Spring of 2026.
    3. International Committee (IC)-K. Valerius informed the committee that the IC met to discuss agreements for overseas partnerships.  This will work well with recruitment of international students.Wisconsin Science Education and Research Consortium Conference (WISER)-K. Valerius will be on the planning committee of this large conference that will be coming to UWM’s campus which focuses on L&S and Natural Sciences.
    4. Search and Screen-Marketing and Communication (MARCOMM)-K. Premeau will be on this important committee to pick the next director of MarComm.  They have yet to meet but K. Premeau will keep the committee updated.
  5. Adjournment-The meeting was adjourned at 10:17 a.m.