November 11, 2025 – Academic Staff Senate General Meeting – Minutes

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

Attendance

Present: M. Archer, R. Calkins, M. Rausch Camacho, C. Cho, J. Court, M. Duellman, R. Edwards, K. Esguerra, A. Follmer, C. Fleider, B. Freer, J. Herriges, B. Hinshaw, J. Johnson, K. Korinek, S. Luelloff, A. Meddaugh, L. McGovern, B. Mueller, N. Oswald, M. Priem, J. Rotier, A. Sandoval, C. Sampson, A. Schmidt, K. Scholz, N. Simonson, A. Singer, J. Steinheiser, A. Stoddard, S. Surach, B. Trager, K. O’Connell Valuch, D. Van Kerkvoorde, E. Zahasky  

Absent: None

Guests: Dave Clark, Andrew Daire, Makda Fessahaye, Thomas Gibson, Melody Harries, Renee Joos, Jeremi Lukos, Jeff Nytes, Kristian O’Connor

Call to Order

Chair J. Herriges called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.

  1. Minutes of October 14, 2025 meeting approved as distributed. 

Chair’s Report

J. Herriges reported ASC met twice since the last AS Senate meeting. In addition to regular reports from the chancellor and provost, ASC also heard from Melinda Kavanaugh, University Committee Chair and Deputy Chief HR Officer Elise Bechly Schubert. Items discussed included workload policies for IAS and Regent Policy Documnet 20-25 Teaching Workload Policy, ASPPP Chapter 105 Performance Management and getting timelines to align with workday (All departments would then align to the dates.), SAAP 10-13 Treatment of Human Anatomical Specimens voted to change this policy from auto consent for further review and SAAP 14-5 Research Misconduct Policy, faculty status for academic staff and committee service, and revisions to ASHAC Bylaws from AS Codification. Chair Herriges provided reports to the University Committee and the University Staff Senate.

Guests

  1. Chancellor Thomas Gibson
    Chancellor Gibson thanked veterans for their service and wished all UWM Veterans a happy Veteran’s Day. He gave updates on the following items: (1) The UWM Food Pantry has seen a 41% growth in usage over the last two months. A fund drive was held last week, with the Chancellor’s $1,000 matching challenge being met within 5 minutes, and about $18,000 was raised by the end of the first day. (2) Gibson attended his first UWM Men’s Basketball game last week, and hosted a pre-game rally before the game to try to drive increased student attendance. (3) In the next few years, there will be decisions on the future of the UWM Panther Arena and the Miller High Life Theater. (4) The Vice Provost for Research position has been elevated to the Vice Chancellor for Research, with an accompanying change in reporting functions. The vice chancellor will report directly to the chancellor. In addition, the Government and External Relations department will move into the Office of the Chancellor, and Chief Government Relations Officer will become a direct report to the chancellor. A new Director of UWM’s University Center at WCTC will begin full time in January. (5) The Office of the Chancellor will launch the search for the Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications in December. (6) On this month’s Chancellor’s radio broadcast/podcast, the Chancellor discussed AI on campus and how AI is impacting small and midsize companies.
  2. Provost A. Daire
    Provost Daire provided updates on the following items: (1) Enrollment management initiatives. (2) Meetings with degree-granting colleges are complete. (3) A communication about the newly hired University Center director, who will start part time this month and transition to full time in December, is forthcoming. (4) Daire visited South Korea as part of international partnerships. (5) The director of the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research is a vital part of the university’s mission. They are examining the replacement of this position since Jonathan Hanes resigned and a decision regarding an interim director and the process for permanent replacement will be made soon.
  3. Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) Makda Fessahaye and Total Rewards Director R. Joos
    AVC Fessahaye echoed Chancellor Gibson’s gratitude to all UWM veterans. She gave updates on: (1) Condensed performance evaluations for all non-instructional academic staff, university staff and limited appointees were due October 31st in Work day. (2) All UWM employees are required to complete Information Security training within 60 days of hire. (3) Last new employee orientation session of 2025 will be held December 2nd. (4) Provided overview of current learning and development offerings. R. Joos gave updates on total rewards efforts and benefits and wellness opportunities.
  4. President, Student Association, J. Lukos
    J. Lukos shared a resolution that has not been passed by the Student Association.He presented the resolution, “In Support of Course Material Cost Transparency” and talked about what is in the works and what to expect. AS Senators and other attendees expressed support for the implementation. J. Lukos described the survey he conducted with students (approximately 550 responses) and offered to share some results with the Senate.
  5. Vice Provost D. Clark provided an update on the 2030 projects.

 New Business

  1. SAAP 10-13 Treatment of Human Anatomical Specimens – M. Harries, Research Compliance Director presented an overview of the policy. No concerns were raised. B. Trager moved and C. Cho seconded approving SAAP 10-13 as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
  2. SAAP 14-5 Research Misconduct Policy – Associate Vice Provost for Research K. O’Connor presented an overview of the policy revisions. No concerns were raised. R. Edwards moved and S. Surach seconded approving SAAP 14-5 as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

Unfinished Business

None.

Committee Reports

  1. Committees
    Mike Priem, Chair of AS Hearing and Appeals Committee, shared with J. Herriges that the Committee has not met since the last Senate meeting.
    Elizabeth Jastrab, Chair of AS Codification, reported the Committee has not met this month.
    Stephanie Surach, Chair of AS Orientation Committee, reported the Committee held its presentation on November 4th and the slides and recording are available on the Committee’s webpage.
    Kyla Esguerra, Chair of the Non-Instructional AS Review Committee, reported the link to the workshop on preparing files for indefinite status is posted on the Committee webpage. The Committee encourages academic staff preparing for indefinite status to use the longer evaluation format.
    Nicole Hoffmann, Chair of the AS Nominations Committee, reminded attendees to complete the preference form which is due December 1st. The Committee is scheduled to meet in January.
    Sare Luelloff, Chair of the AS Awards Committee, noted the Professional Development awards and the Regents awards are not being offered. The Committee proposed changes to its bylaws which will be reviewed by the ASC in December.
  2. Subcommittees
    Anne Kissack, Communications Subcommittee, shared that the Subcommittee will meet next week and working on the Spring newsletter.
    J. Herriges shared that the Non-Instructional AS Subcommittee will host its “How Can I be of Service” on November 19th.

General Good and Welfare

J. Herriges thanked UWM’s Veterans for their service.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 4:11 p.m.