“The Regents owe the Wisconsin citizens, employers, and students who rely on a strong, stable UW System an explanation for why they chose to throw the System into turmoil” – state Sen. Rob Hutton
The Wisconsin state Assembly will hold a hearing to compel members of the Board of Regents to explain to the public why they fired UW System President Jay Rothman without explaining a clear reason. Rothman was a rare bipartisan figure in the Universities of Wisconsin; he fought to depoliticize the taxpayer-funded universities, improved enrollment trends, and worked with people on both sides of the aisle.
Regents President Amy Bogost offered only vague generalities when explaining why the Board, almost entirely appointed by Democrat Gov. Tony Evers, decided to oust Rothman on Tuesday. Evers has appointed 16 of the 18 Regents.
“The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, supports our comprehensive universities, and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties,” Bogost said.
Even more bizarre, the Board praised Rothman while firing him, saying, “The Board is grateful for President Rothman’s service and recognizes the meaningful work undertaken during his tenure. Under his leadership, the Universities of Wisconsin took important and often difficult steps to address longstanding structural deficits, putting individual universities on sounder financial footing for the future. He worked hard to bring the best to the campuses, students, faculty, and staff. Those efforts and that dedication are acknowledged and appreciated. However, despite these accomplishments, based on the annual performance review and subsequent discussions, the Board has lost confidence in President Rothman’s ability to lead the UWs moving forward.”
But why did the Regents lost confidence in Rothman? Who knows? They aren’t saying.
Shortly before the Regents fired Rothman, State Representative Dave Murphy (R-Hortonville), Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, announced that the committee will hold a public hearing “to examine recent reports that the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is seeking to terminate President Jay Rothman without providing clear reasons.”
“As Chairman, I am troubled by the lack of transparency surrounding these reports,” said Rep. Murphy. “President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership. At the hearing, members of the Board of Regents will be called to testify and explain their reasons for pursuing his removal.”
Murphy commended Rothman’s leadership “in addressing nationwide declining enrollment and sustaining educational access for Wisconsin students. He expressed concern that the effort may be linked to Rothman’s strong support for free speech and open inquiry on campus—principles that must be protected in higher education.”
Sen. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), chairman of the Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue, wrote in a statement that the “Board of Regents once again appears to be distracted by politics and unable to concentrate on addressing the big picture challenges the UW System faces.”
“Instead of focusing on major structural and curriculum reforms throughout the entire system, the Regents seem determined to stray into backroom maneuvering that further diminishes the reputation of the UW brand and undermines its long-term mission of preparing our students for an ever-changing marketplace,” he wrote.
“It’s disappointing that Governor Evers has chosen to shrug his shoulders and sit idly by as his own Regents act against the best interests of the UW System,” added Hutton. “The Regents owe the Wisconsin citizens, employers, and students who rely on a strong, stable UW System an explanation for why they chose to throw the System into turmoil.”
Who are the Board of Regents?
Angela Adams, Evers appointee
Desmond Adongo, Evers appointee
Amy Bogost, Evers appointee
Noah Fritz, Evers appointee
Haben Goitom, Evers appointee
Jim Kreuser, Evers appointee
Edmund Manydeeds III, Evers appointee
Timothy Nixon, Evers appointee
Tom Palzewicz, Evers appointee
Joan Prince, Evers appointee
Ashok Rai, Evers appointee
Sara Rogers, Technical College Board President
Jack Salzwedel, Evers appointee
Linda Terwilliger, Evers appointee
Amy Traynor, Evers appointee
Jill Underly, state Superintendent of Schools
Karen Walsh, Evers appointee
Kyle Weatherly, Evers appointee
