The Academic Staff Institute is an annual professional development conference for UW-Madison academic staff held during the spring semester. The conference is a joint effort between the Madison Academic Staff Network, Academic Staff Executive Committee, Secretary of the Academic Staff office, and the Academic Staff Assembly.
2026 Academic Staff Institute
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Location: Union South
Time: 11:00am – 4:30pm
Cost: $25 (includes lunch)
Registration Link: https://go.wisc.edu/xlw5yw
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2026
Registration Deals:
- Join the Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO Membership Application) between now and April 1, 2026, and receive free registration to ASI.
- All attendees will receive free membership (a $15 value!) to the Madison Academic Staff Network through August 31, 2026 (https://madisonacademicstaffnetwork.org/).
Note: Limited funds (a total of $1,000) are available for individuals interested in attending the institute whose headquarters location is assigned as the alternate work location (please see the Remote Work policy for more details). These funds are available on a first-come, first served basis. If you are interested, please fill out this brief form with details about your funding request by Friday, February 27, 2026: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5neMfyzkh4e8qWh
Schedule
11:00 – 11:45: Registration & Lunch
11:45 – 12:00: Welcome
12:00 – 12:45: Keynote Presentation
1:00 – 2:00: Breakout Session 1
2:15 – 3:15: Breakout Session 2
3:30 – 4:30: Breakout Session 3
Keynote Presentation
Living with Vitality… and Resilience
Bob McGrath
Distinguished Psychologist Emeritus
University Health Services
Breakout Sessions
Meet the UWPD Mounted Unit
Officer Ryan Conybear, UW–Madison Police Department
Officer Jolene Eck, UW–Madison Police Department
Lieutenant Carl Siddell, UW–Madison Police Department
Come meet the UWPD Mounted Unit. Learn about our two horses, Rettke and Vetter. Learn how they are trained and deployed. Weather permitting, meet the horses outside.
Plain Language for Effective Communication
Cassandra Lima Pilarski, Workplace ESL Instructor and Trainer, Office of Human Resources
Ineffective communication causes workplace anxiety for 80% of US employees (SoftActivity, 2021). Learn how plain language can save time, increase follow-through, build trust, and reduce frustration. In this session, you will practice plain language strategies to create messages that your intended audience can understand and act on immediately.
Stronger Together: Coaching Circles for Support and Connection
Kim Grocholski, Assistant Dean for Academic Planning, College of Letters & Science
Theresa Kim, Program Manager, Learning and Talent Development, Office of Human Resources
What if you had a trusted group of 4-5 colleagues from across campus – a support network where you could bring real challenges? Imagine a space designed for deep listening, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connection. This session gives you an inside look at the power of Coaching Circles. You’ll hear directly from a Coaching Circle participant and then have the chance to either observe a circle in action or take part in one yourself.
The Carillon Tower
Lyle Anderson, UW Carillonneur Emeritus
The carillon: what it is, how it works, and some historical context on how it came to be.
Digital Accessibility @ UW–Madison
Ruben Mota, Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, Office of Compliance
Al Nemec, Digital Accessibility Program Manager, Center for User Experience
This session provides information about an expanded digital accessibility requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act, current university-wide efforts to support the requirements, and information on how to create accessible digital content. Join in to learn the important role you have in ensuring an accessible and inclusive university digital ecosystem!
Retirement Planning: Put your UW-Madison Benefits to Work
Thomasin Propson, Benefits Specialist, Office of Human Resources
Kate Richards, Benefits Specialist, Office of Human Resources
Learn how to make the most of your UW–Madison benefits as you plan for retirement (even if – perhaps especially if!) your retirement is years away. This session highlights free, easy-to-use tools from ETF, UW, the Department of Labor, and the Social Security Administration to help you understand your options and map out a confident retirement strategy.
ASPRO Legislative Session Wrap-Up
Kathi Kilgore, ASPRO Executive Director & Lobbyist
For nearly four decades, Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) has been a trusted voice for Academic Staff, providing steady guidance and strong advocacy. Join us for a recap of the latest legislative session from ASPRO’s lobbyist and explore how the organization represents Academic Staff interests at the Capitol.
Practical and safe use of UW-Madison AI tools
Tamara Walker, DoIT Academic Technology Director and Associate Vice Provost for Learning Technologies
This session will explore how to integrate AI tools in your daily work. You will learn simple ways to use these tools safely while following university guidance to protect university data. By the end of the talk, you’ll have a clear plan for using AI as a helpful assistant to save time and get more done in the office.
UW-Madison’s New Budget Approach
Bethany Butson Crowell, Associate Vice Provost, Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research (DAPIR)
Natalie Feggestad, Budget Director, Madison Budget Office
This session will provide an overview of the new budget approach to be implemented in FY27 including who is impacted by it, which revenue sources are included, how allocations are calculated and how it impacts budget implementation.