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.
2025 Academic Staff Institute
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Location: Union South
Time: 11:00am – 5:30pm
Cost: $25 (includes lunch and afternoon refreshments)
Registration Link: https://go.wisc.edu/76053q
Registration Deadline: March 3, 2025
Registration Deals:
- Join the Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO Membership Application) between now and March 3, 2025, and receive free registration to ASI.
- All attendees will receive free membership to the Madison Academic Staff Network through June 30, 2025 (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 14, 2025: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5neMfyzkh4e8qWh
Schedule
11:00 – 12:00: Registration & Lunch
12:00 – 12:15: Welcome
12:15 – 1:00: Keynote Presentation
1:15 – 2:30: Breakout Session 1
2:45 – 4:00: Breakout Session 2
4:00 – 5:00: Networking Reception
Keynote Presentation
Mental Flex: Training the Mind for Performance and Wellbeing
Chad McGehee
Director of Meditation Training for Wisconsin Athletics
Breakout Sessions
Discover Workday: A Hands-On Preview for UW–Madison Employees
Nicole Anspach, Stakeholder Engagement & Readiness Lead, Administrative Transformation Program (ATP)
Kelly Gauthier, Transformation Readiness Lead, Administration Innovation and Planning (AIP)
This Workday Open House will provide UW–Madison employees with an exclusive, first look of Workday, the new administrative system set to launch in July 2025. Staff are invited to drop-in anytime between 9:00 am to 4:30 pm to discover what’s on the Workday homepage, learn how to find payslips, update tax elections, explore time and absence functions, and more. This self-guided experience offers a practical, hands-on exploration of Workday. Attendees will benefit from direct interaction with Workday, gaining valuable insights and confidence in using Workday’s self-service features. Staff from the Administrative Transformation Program (ATP) and Administration Innovation and Planning (AIP) teams will be on-hand to guide attendees, answer questions, and provide information about upcoming training resources. Key takeaways include familiarity with the Workday platform, understanding of essential employee and manager self-service functionality, and access to support resources.
Emotional Intelligence@Work: Noticing and Naming Emotion
Tamie Klumpyan, Inclusion@UW Program Manager, Office of Human Resources
Practicing emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial for effective teamwork, as it helps build connections, cultivate collaboration, and foster trust. Recognizing our own and others’ emotions is invaluable in today’s workplace. Join this session to explore the “anatomy” of emotion and learn practical EQ skills relevant to work and beyond.
Grow and Take Control of Your Career at UW
April McHugh, Director and Career Counselor, Employee Career Counseling, Office of Human Resources
Ever wonder what career development really is? How to grow your career on campus? What resources are available to help? This session will focus on answering these questions and more. Join April McHugh, Director of the Employee Career Counseling Program, to learn more about all the above, get your questions answered, and leave with the beginning of a career plan.
Higher Education Policy and Politics for 2025
Nick Hillman, Professor, School of Education & Director of SSTAR Lab
Crystal Potts, Senior Director of State Relations & Statewide Outreach
Craig Thompson, Vice Chancellor for University Relations
Participants will hear from government relations and public policy experts on issues at the state and federal levels and their impact on higher education.
Retirement and other Big Transitions: How do I Prepare? Can we Talk?
Mary Czynszak-Lyne, Emerit; Board Member, UW Retirement Association
Sherry Holcomb, Senior IRB Analyst, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Carol Hulland, Administrative Manager, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health
The UW Retirement Issues Committee has developed a rich set of resources for planning for big transitions (retirement being one of these) financially, mentally and emotionally. The session includes an introduction to these resources as a starting place encouraging participants to ask questions and share their experiences. The discussion encourages participants to have valuable conversations advocating for and preparing for life transitions, encouraging small steps over time that support well being and resilience.
Skill Up & Stand Out: Developing Your Skills and Showcasing Your Growth
Christopher East, Organizational Career Development Specialist, Office of Human Resources
In this session, participants will explore job-specific skills and knowledge using the KS Hub for UW-Madison employees, gaining insight into key competencies for career growth. They will identify actionable strategies for developing skills on the job, collaborating with others, and engaging their supervisors for support. Additionally, attendees will learn how to effectively showcase their skills on their resumes to enhance career opportunities.
*Participants encouraged to bring laptop.
The Lakeshore Nature Preserve: UW-Madison’s Living Laboratory
Brad Herrick, Director, Lakeshore Nature Preserve
The UW-Madison’s Lakeshore Nature Preserve is a 300-acre natural area situated along 4 miles of Lake Mendota shoreline. The Preserve land has long been sacred for the Ho-Chunk Nation and has experienced a long and varied history of land use. Encompassing one-third of the campus footprint, the Preserve is now a living laboratory for research, teaching, education, and outreach.
Transforming Daily Work: Leveraging Generative AI for Everyday Tasks
Margaret Murphy, Learning & Development Manager, Facilities Planning & Management
This session will delve into the transformative power of AI, focusing on how it can simplify repetitive tasks, boost productivity, and inspire innovation in your professional life. We’ll also cover essential prompting techniques to ensure you get real, actionable results from generative AI tools. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with practical strategies, actionable steps, and a solid understanding of effective AI prompting to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in your daily work.