August 3, 2026 – Academic Staff Committee (ASC) – Minutes

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Time: Monday at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams and Lubar N440

Attendance

Present: R. Edwards, K. Esguerra, B. Freer, T. Joosten, N. Oswald, A. Schmidt, N. Simonson, J. Steinheiser
Guests: Makda Fessahaye, Renee Joos, Lane Sunwall

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair J. Steinheiser at 9:02 a.m.

The agenda was approved as presented.
The minutes of July 20, 2026, meeting were approved as presented.

III. Persons Who Wish to be Heard

None.

IV. Chair’s Report

None.

V. Guests

  1. Associate Vice Chancellor Makda Fessahaye
    AVC M. Fessahaye explained the HR Title Appeal Process Guidelines were out of date and not updated since the Title and Total Compensation project about five years ago. Other UW campuses are also reviewing and updating processes. The HR Classification and Compensation unit is fully staffed and capable to review appeals if submitted. HR has not received any appeals since the TTC project. The next step is to meet with the University Staff Committee and then publish on the HR webpage.No concerns were voiced by ASC. Other updates included HR’s record number of recruitments and the recent community job fair which was a success. The supervisory training for new supervisors who are required to complete within first two years has been updated. The Total Compensation Guidelines are still ongoing and M. Fessahaye is meeting with deans and division heads within the next few weeks.

VI. Unfinished Business

  1. Proposed revisions to Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Chapters 106, 109, and 110 – Item is postponed until further notice from Legal Affairs.
  2. Review Academic Staff Appointment Types and Contract Term Comparisons to Peer Institutions submitted by NIAS and IRAS Subcommittees – ASC agreed to ask the workgroup to draft a presentation for review by ASC in August for presentation to the AS Senate in September.
  3. ASPPP Proposed Chapter 114: Instructional Academic Staff Workload – No update.
  4. Review Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Chapter 108: Notice Periods – Proposed revisions will be reviewed by AS Codification in August.

VII. New Business

  1. Revisions to the HR Title Appeal Process – Associate Vice Chancellor M. Fessahaye presented reason for the revisions. See item V.A. ASC had no concerns about changes to the process.
  2. ASC Recommendations for Outstanding Academic Staff Research Award Committee – N. Oswald moved and A. Schmidt seconded recommending Stephen Appel, Rick Edwards, Tanya Joosten and Jessica Schuld for the committee. Motion passed unanimously. T. Howard will confirm interest before forwarding names to Vice Chancellor for Research Ali Abedi.
  3. ASC Recommedations for Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Search and Screen Committee – B. Freer moved and N. Oswald seconded recommending Nicole Oswald, Gabriela Reid, Jen Steinheiser and Derek Webb (with Alexis Locket-Glover and Isabella Virrueta as backups) for the committee. Motion passed unanimously. T. Howard will confirm interest before forwarding names to Chancellor Gibson.
  4. AS Senate Guests Fall 2026 – T. Howard will invite Alberto Maldonado to provide an update on the new student center.

VIII. Reports

None.

IX. Personnel Matters

None.

X. Good and General Welfare

R. Edwards reported that Act 10 was upheld. B. Freer will participate on a panel at the next Board of Regents meeting.

XI. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.