July 14, 2026 – Academic Staff Senate – Minutes

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Time: Tuesday at 2:30 pm
Location: Microsoft Teams

Attendance

Present: M. Archer, M. Rausch Camacho, C. Cho, C. Driscoll, R. Edwards, K. Esguerra, B. Freer, C. Hayes, J. Herriges, B. Hinshaw, J. Johnson, T. Joosten, K. Korinek, S. Luelloff, A. Meddaugh, L. McGovern, N. Oswald, M. Priem, A. Schmidt, M. Schmit, K. Scholz, N. Simonson, A. Singer, S. Surach, J. Steinheiser, A. Stoddard, K. O’Connell Valuch, D. Van Kerkvoorde, E. Zahasky
Absent: R. Calkins, J. Court, C. Fleider, B. Mueller, J. Rotier, B. Trager
Guests: Makda Fessahaye, Tina Freiburger, Renee Joos, Alberto Maldonado

I. Call to Order

Chair J. Herriges called the meeting to order at 2:31 p.m.

  1. Minutes of the June 9, 2026 meeting were approved as distributed.

III. Chair’s Report

Chair J. Herriges reported she met with Chancellor Gibson on July 7th.

IV. Guests

  1. Interim Provost T. Freiburger
    Interim Provost A. Freiburger reported on the SEMMS and M-Cubed summits held recently. She provided a brief enrollment update and noted that new student orientations have been well-attended.
  2. Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) M. Fessahaye and Total Rewards Director R. Joos
    R. Joos provided health and wellness updates and noted they are looking for wellness ambassadors to represent and support wellbeing of employees. AVC Fessahaye shared that the first Job Fair will be held July 20th. The pay plan increase will be reflected on the July 23 paycheck. Telework and remote work requests are due September 30th as are performance evaluations. HR shared digital accessibility resources for supervisors and relaunched new supervisory training program for new supervisors. A webinar on career transitions will be held on July 15th.
  3. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Achievement and Connection A. Maldonado
    A. Maldonado gave an update on the UWM Student Centers. The goal is to create a more connected, accessible and collaborative support system for students and to strengthen, not replace, identity and cultural centers. The focus remains on student success, belonging and community. He shared the future vision and expanded services with most centers moving to the Student Union in 2027 with dedicated spaces remaining for key identity-based centers and expanded supportive and collaborative programming. No full-time staff positions are being eliminated. The student connection and achievement collaborative purpose is to create and function as a seamless student experience with eight centers.

V. New Business

  1. None.

VI. Unfinished Business

  1. None.

VII. Committee Reports

  1. Committees
    E. Jastrab, chair, reported the AS Codification Committee has not met since last Senate meeting.
    S. Surach, chair, reported the AS Orientation Committee has not met since last Senate meeting.
  2. Subcommittees
    No reports.

VIII. General Good and Welfare

K. Scholz, AS Codification Committee member, recently moved from an instructional academic staff position to non-instructional. She was involved in the NIAS Workload Policy discussion. She urged other instructional academic staff to get involved with the Instructional and Research AS Subcommittee.
N. Oswald shared details on volunteer opportunities for the Saturday Move-In and Fall Welcome.
Jodie Tabak, encouraged sharing stories about the great work of employees with media services.

IX. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 3:43 p.m.