January 5, 2026 – Academic Staff Committee (ASC) – Minutes

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

Attendance

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

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chair J. Herriges at 9:01 a.m.

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

Persons Who Wish to be Heard

None

Chair’s Report

J. Herriges attended the Chancellor’s Cabinet Meeting where it was reported Employee Appreciation Week is set for February 9-15. The Cabinet discussed AI and how we are using to tell UWM’s story. Planning is underway for the June Board of Regents meeting which is always held at UWM. UWM will present how we impact our community. Herriges did not attend Faculty or University Staff Senate since last ASC meeting. Met with Provost Daire and spoke about VSIP participants (about ½ academic staff and ½ faculty). Daire is still reviewing indefinite status and wants to do more research. Daire wants to know where academic freedom is mentioned and A. Schmidt stated that it’s implied. Herriges was honored to be part of the Platform Party at the December Commencement ceremony.

Guests

  1. Chancellor T. Gibson
    Chancellor Gibson provided updates on the following items: 1. Commencement recap – more than 1,500 graduates received their degrees. The Commencement speaker was Gale Klappa and an honorary degree was given to Lea Denny, founder of HIR Wellness Institute. He thought Commencement went well and there was very good energy. 2. VSIP – 36 employees from 10 divisions were eligible and 31 participated including 15 academic staff. The estimated savings is $2.8M. 3. Panther Arena update: mayor neither vetoed nor approved proposal. Wisconsin Center District is going to meet and review the study. 4. Chancellor’s Report on WUWM included Michael Doylen, Associate Vice Provost and Library Director. The Libraries have saved students $1.7M in course materials.5. Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communication search is using national firm. The committee has been established. 6. ACT 15 – JCOER approved Regent’s Policy 2025. General education requirements were reviewed and no approval is needed. 7. M Cubed annual report – more than 1,900 MPS students toured UWM and MATC in the last year. Majority said they had a better understanding of higher ed and that they were likely to pursue a degree. Smart Start program has grown exponentially – 950 scholarships given. Retention rate is 78% for students in this program. Higher than the other students in MPS cohort. 8. Chancellor’s Inauguration Committee has been formed. The event will be in September 2026. K. Esguerra asked Gibson how ASC can help the chancellor and Gibson suggested helping to identify barriers to student success and how to address.
  2. Associate Vice Chancellor M. Fessahaye
    AVC Fessahaye reported on VSIP and said a lot of work was done by HR during this process and she’s proud of her staff for working on it. 31 participants took the VSIP, 15 are academic staff (7 were instructional, 6 non-instructional, 2 research). HR is still working on the Comprehensive Compensation Review with the goal to have an update by beginning of Spring semester. They got off track to take care of faculty market items in ACT 15. M. Fessahaye does not think there will be many updates to Comprehensive Compensation since the ASC last received it. An announcement about the Employee Appreciation Week is coming. Length of Service ceremony will take place that week. K. Esguerra asked how ASC and others can advocate for indefinite status and Fessahaye had no specific thoughts. Probationary contracts are at the discretion of the units.  N. Oswald asked about dates for ASPPP Chapter 105 Performance Evaluations. K. Esguerra has draft language from meeting with HR and will share with ASC soon.

Unfinished Business

  1. Workload Policies for AS – Workload policy was approved by JCOER. N. Oswald moved, R. Edwards seconded to remove this item from Unfinished Business. Motion carried unanimously.
  2. Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Chapter 105 Performance Management – Update from K. Esguerra who met with Elise Bechly-Schubert, HR, who took notes and volunteered to type. K. Esguerra will bring information to next ASC meeting.
  3. Discuss feedback on Proposed Revisions to SAAP 0-1 UWM Policy on the Creation of Selected Academic & Administrative Policies – N. Oswald suggested that next time a change of this nature happens, it’s presented to the ASC at a meeting rather than going back-and-forth by email. Members are to send any additional feedback to J. Herriges by January 7, 2026.

New Business

  1. Review Revisions to AS Awards Bylaws from AS Codification – After review, the ASC agreed to present the revisions to the AS Senate at the January 13 meeting.
  2. Approve AS Senate Agenda (January 13) – After review, R. Edwards moved and N. Oswald seconded approving the January 13th AS Senate agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
  3. Review Social Media Policy (draft) – After discussion, J. Steinheiser moved and R. Edwards seconded approving the Policy as presented. Motion passed unanimously. J. Herriges will notify Deanna Alba with the ASC’s feedback.
  4. Review and Comment on UW System Administrative Policy 1: Development, Revision, and Approval of UW System Administrative Policies, Procedures, and Guidance –After discussion, A. Follmer moved and K. Esguerra seconded approving the Policy as presented. Motion passed unanimously. J. Herriges will notify Kathryn Amato the ASC had no feedback.
  5. Review Digital Accessibility Policy for Digital Tools and Electronic Resources – After review and discussion, the ASC had no concerns or questions at this time. J. Herriges will share with Associate Vice Chancellor for IT and CIO Scott Genung who will present to the AS Senate in February.

Reports

  1. R. Edwards reported the Realignment Workgroup is continuing to meet. Transitioning from research to discussion.
  2. R. Edwards mentioned that Dean Gronert presented at the L&S APGC and commented on indefinite status in L&S. Gronert stated he was willing to come to speak to ASC. ASC thought it would be good to get thoughts from a decision-maker. Committee would also like him to comment on multi-year contracts.
  3. K. Esguerra reported the NIASRC received two files to review.
  4. N. Oswald reported the Campus Space & Planning committee approved room swapping between Math and Engineering, and approved Engineering’s planned changes to one of the rooms. Question about Honors College moving to Enderis Hall. Will ask Melissa Spadanuda at the next Senate meeting.
  5. J. Herriges reported the NIAS Subcommittee is hesitant to accept the assignment from ASC to request for information from peer institutions because of the time commitment. One of the subcommittee members spoke to a supervisor after the request and was told they could not do this work on the clock. J. Herriges added that the Instructional and Research AS Subcommittee has not been re-established yet, so they have not received the request.

Personnel Matters

None.

Good and General Welfare

Chancellor’s Cabinet meeting is on January 26, J. Herriges will be out of the office, so J. Steinheiser will attend in her place. Committee decided to cancel the ASC meeting on January 26.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 10:29 a.m.