October 6, 2025 – Academic Staff Committee (ASC) – Minutes

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

Attendance

Present: R. Edwards, K. Esguerra, A. Follmer, B. Freer, J. Herriges, N. Oswald, A. Schmidt, J. Steinheiser
Guests: Dave Clark, Makda Fessahaye, Thomas Gibson

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chair J. Herriges at 9:00 a.m.

The agenda was approved as presented.
The minutes of September 15, 2025 meeting were approved as presented.

Persons Who Wish to be Heard

None

Chair’s Report

J. Herriges met with Chancellor Gibson and discussed his communication preferences, academic staff probationary positions and indefinite status, and what service means for academic staff. She met with Provost Daire and talked about … Attended the University Committee and University Staff Senate meeting to provide summary of ASC’s recent activities. Jennifer Cramer, Learning and Development Specialist, asked J. Herriges how to best share information about professional development opportunities.

Guests

  1. Chancellor Thomas Gibson
    Chancellor Gibson talked about his recent interactions with UWM Foundation Board and new President Laura Bray, UWM graduates and community members, and county executives, Paul Farrow (Waukesha) and Josh Schoemann (Washington). A recording of the Chancellor’s Plenary a recording is available. Shared new branding “Make New Waves”. Chancellor Gibson noted this fall the largest class since 2009. He encouraged all to attend the October 15th UWM Employee Excellence Awards ceremony and Thankful Thursday on October 16th in the Gasthaus. Communication preference for governance-related concerns or matters should be funneled through J. Herriges as ASC chair but he is open to engaging if an issue is at impasse with leadership. ASC will share the survey on indefinite status results before the October 14th AS Senate meeting.
  2. Associate Vice Chancellor Makda Fessahaye
    AVC Fessahaye provided updates on the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) for those eligible; new employee orientation; and open enrollment for benefits (My Insurance benefits profile required for making changes to benefits). Discussion about performance evaluations for non-instructional academic staff and university staff in Workday. Moved from a calendar year to a fiscal (academic) year. Self-evaluations will be completed in Workday starting July 1, 2025. HR is open to a conversation about the requirements of the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Review Committee and its recommendations for a supplemental narrative. M. Fessahaye will share the standard prompts with K. Esguerra who will review. M. Fessahaye asked that ASC discuss deadlines for submitting evaluations and consistency for instructional academic staff timelines.
  3. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dave Clark
    VP Clark presented on policies and practices worked on in summer 2025 including canvas experience, textbook adoption, office hours policy (minimum of 2 hours a week), revised uniform syllabus, new freshman who receive an F in a course will have opportunity to opt in to changing to no credit and TA training. Currently reviewing minimum class sizes for graduate and undergraduate courses, standardizing class scheduling, improving grade policy (instructors submitting by deadline), and how program reviews are conducted.

Unfinished Business

  1. Workload Policies for AS – No update.
  2. Non-Instructional AS Review Committee Survey on Indefinite Status – K. Esguerra will moderate a discussion at the October 14 AS Senate meeting.
  3. Approve AS Senate agenda for October 14. R. Edwards moved and A. Schmidt seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

New Business

  1. Review Proposed Revisions to ASHAC Bylaws. B. Freer moved and R. Edwards seconded approving moving to AS Codification Committee for review. Motion carried unanimously.
  2. Review Proposed Revisions to AS Awards Bylaws. ASC agreed that AS Awards should be administered regardless of funding for monetary awards. The bylaws will be returned to AS Awards Committee for reconsideration.
  3. Faculty Status for Academic Staff. ASC raised concerns about using granting of faculty status for specific Secretary J. Reisel will be invited to provide more details at the October 20th meeting.
  4. Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Chapter 105 Performance Management. ASC discussed review period timeline and 12-month appointments vs 9-month appointments. Consistency and clarity are critical. K. Esguerra will follow up with M. Fessahaye on timelines.

Reports

  1. B. Freer attended first meeting of UWs Shared Governance reps and gave overview of information shared at the meeting including disruptions with federal government activities and Act 15 requirements, digital accessibility, and a survey for faculty and instructional staff.
  2. K. Esguerra reported the NIASRC workshop on preparing files is scheduled for October 16.
  3. A. Follmer reported the APBC met last week.
  4. J. Steinheiser reported the ITPC met last week and discussed digital accessibility and Town Hall will be held October 23.

Personnel Matters

None

Good and General Welfare

A. Follmer raised questions about the salary increase for obtaining indefinite status.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 11:29 a.m.