SACUA Discusses Work Connections and Meets with University President

Faculty committee raises concerns over medical leave denials and lack of appeals process

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The University of Michigan's Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) met to discuss ongoing issues with the university's Work Connections program, which has been denying or reducing faculty members' requests for medical leave. SACUA members met with Interim University President Domenico Grasso to voice their concerns, and also debated a draft document outlining proposed changes to how Work Connections should operate.

Why it matters

The Work Connections program has faced criticism from faculty over its handling of medical leave requests, with concerns that it overrides the recommendations of employees' personal physicians. This raises questions about the university's treatment of faculty health and disability accommodations.

The details

During the SACUA meeting, members discussed a draft document co-written by faculty members that outlines issues with how Work Connections currently operates. Concerns were raised about discrepancies between physicians' recommendations and Work Connections' decisions, as well as the lack of an effective appeals process for contested assessments. SACUA members debated whether the committee should take the lead in pushing for changes to Work Connections' policies and procedures.

  • SACUA met on Monday afternoon in the Alexander G. Ruthven Building.
  • SACUA will meet again on February 23 to discuss campus surveillance cameras with the interim executive director of the Division of Public Safety and Security.

The players

Derek Peterson

SACUA Chair.

Lauren Smith

New SACUA member and clinical pathology professor.

Kirsten Herold

Public health lecturer and SACUA member.

Kentaro Toyama

Information professor and SACUA member.

Domenico Grasso

Interim University of Michigan President.

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What they’re saying

“There are those who do physical work, and then those of us who sit at a computer all day. I'd trust my regular doctor's opinion more than someone I've only seen once.”

— Kirsten Herold, Public health lecturer and SACUA member (michigandaily.com)

“I don't think it is in our collective interest for a non-expert primary care provider to make judgments for employees, not knowing the job. There's no framework in this writing for an appeal.”

— Derek Peterson, SACUA Chair (michigandaily.com)

“I'm not going to trust Work Connections to run an appeal. This is really meant for the regents, the document is only one page and it's difficult to express everything within that.”

— Kentaro Toyama, Information professor and SACUA member (michigandaily.com)

What’s next

SACUA plans to send the draft document outlining proposed changes to Work Connections to the University's Board of Regents for consideration.

The takeaway

The issues raised by SACUA highlight ongoing tensions between the university's Work Connections program and faculty over the handling of medical leave requests. This raises broader questions about the university's commitment to supporting employee health and providing fair accommodations.