October 5, 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: S. Brysch, K. Esguerra, B. Freer, R. Trumbull Holper, C. Marifke, N. Oswald, A. Schmidt, N. Simonson, L. Sunwall
Guests:  Thomas Gibson, Makda Fessahaye

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chair N. Oswald at 9:02 a.m.

The agenda was approved as presented.
The minutes of September 21, 2026, meeting were approved as presented.

III. Persons Who Wish to be Heard

None.

IV. Chair’s Report

N. Oswald reported she attended the University Committee meeting and presented the ASC’s feedback on the Comprehensive Compensation Review Guidelines. Will be attending this week’s UC meeting. She attended the Governance Training on September 30th and met with Kay Eilers about the Schedule of Classes policy. K. Eilers will be invited to the March AS Senate meeting to give update on SEMM planning.

V. Guests

  1. Chancellor T. Gibson shared that most of his leadership is now temporarily housed in the Northwest Quadrant while Chapman is under renovations. This relocation has made Gibson think about making Chapman Hall more accessible to students and staff moving forward. Gibson spoke about the inauguration and the events during the week. Chancellor Gibson greatest impact of what UWM means to the community and how our contributions inspire others. Gibson asked the ASC to provide feedback on how to operationalize the three strategic imperatives: 1. advancing student success and opportunities; 2. elevating innovation, discovery and problem solving; and 3. deepening community engagement and impact. ASC presented priorities related to student success, strategies to assisting first generation students, and how to ensure students with accommodations needs are supported. Advocating for student employment and student research could help with student success. The Chancellor’s latest WUWM interview focuses on the 70 years of UWM’s history. He also reported UWM received a $6M NSF grant and encouraged all to attend next week’s Employee Excellence Awards ceremony.
  2. Associate Vice Chancellor for HR M. Fessahaye shared details about UWM Open Enrollment Benefits & Wellness Fair and Flu Clinic on October 7th. She will be presenting the Comprehensive Compensation Review Guidelines to next week’s AS Senate. Encouraged employees to take advantage of opportunities available on LinkedIn Learning, which are underutilized, and to share with colleagues. HR is auditing fall contracts based on concerns raised by ASC and others. HR is reviewing telecommuting agreements and performance evaluation completions.

VI. Unfinished Business

  1. Proposed revisions to Academic Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Chapters 106, 109, and 110 – Item postponed until further notice from Legal Affairs and HR.
  2. Review Academic Staff Appointment Types and Contract Term Comparisons to Peer Institutions submitted by NIAS and IRAS Subcommittees – ASC agreed to invite the group to present the report at the November or December AS Senate.
  3. ASPPP Proposed Chapter 114: Instructional Academic Staff Workload – N. Oswald scheduled a meeting with HR, Legal, Provost’s Office and members of the Instructional and Research AS Subcommittee on October 19th to get clarification.
  4. Confirm and Approve Revisions to ASPPP Chapter 108: Notice Periods – B. Freer moved and K. Esguerra seconded to approve sending to AS Codification. Motion approved unanimously.

VII. New Business

  1. Review and Provide Feedback on Academic Scheduling Policy – ASC discussed the Academic Scheduling Policy and provided some feedback that N. Oswald with share with Interim Provost T. Freiburger and Kay Eilers.
  2. Approve Academic Staff Senate Agenda (October) – K. Esguerra moved and A. Schmidt seconded approving the October AS Senate agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

VIII. Reports

  1. A. Schmidt reported on the September 25th UWs Shared Governance Council meeting. Discussion included similar issues being addressed by ASC including contract types, titles, and compensation and how non-instructional academic staff could appeal the results of their performance evaluations.
  2. K. Esguerra reported on the proposals presented to APBC including Program Monitoring Policy and Proposal for the UW-Milwaukee Center for Classical Guitar Excellence.
  3. C. Marifke reported that the Nominations and Orientation Committees have not met since the last ASC meeting.
  4. R. Trumbull Holper stated the Non-Instructional Academic Staff Committee will hold their workshop on October 15th from 9:30-11 and currently there are no files to review.
  5. R. Trumbull-Holper will attend the first Space Planning Committee later today.

IX. Personnel Matters

R. Trumbull-Holper moved and A. Schmidt seconded moving into closed session to discuss personnel matters per Wis. Stats. 19.85 (1) (c) and/or (f) including concerns regarding AS contract change from probationary to fixed term and questions related to ASPPP Chapters 104 and 108 from an instructional academic staff. Motion passed unanimously and closed session began at 10:25 a.m. K. Esguerra moved and A. Schmidt seconded to reconvene in open session. Motion passed unanimously and ASC moved into open session at 11:29 a.m.

X. Good and General Welfare

ASC will request that a joint communication from Provost, HR and chairs of the AS Review Committees about the status of probationary and indefinite status be shared campus-wide.

XI. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 11:31 a.m.