The UW System Board of Regents voted Friday to change its employment policies to address criticisms regarding backup jobs and felons, but some state legislators remained skeptical of the proposed changes.
The System has come under fire recently for its handling of three cases in which professors were convicted of felonies and remained on the System payroll.
State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, urged the UW to fire any professor who is convicted of a serious felony. He called the regents' promises to reform \vague"" and said, ""We'll see when they come out with their actual policy if it actually has the effect of firing individuals when they're convicted of felonies. If it doesn't, the Legislature will act.""
Regent spokesperson Doug Bradley said regents are willing to work with the state but the state needs to realize that the UW System is making a ""good faith effort,"" to make reforms.
""I think we ought to take [the regents] at their word and give them a little bit of time,"" he said.
Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, granted that the System can improve some policies but accused Republican lawmakers of exaggerating its problems in order to justify budget cuts to the System.
He pointed to the policy of backup jobs, in which many UW administrators were guaranteed positions if they were fired, as one area the Regents could reform.
""I think there should be a clear definition of when back-up jobs should be used and when they [shouldn't],"" he said. ""They should have a clear set of criteria and the live by that criteria.""
A decision to provide free fall-semester tuition for UW schools to hurricane victims was passed by the regents but was met with skepticism from some lawmakers.
Black said, ""I'm sympathetic to the hurricane victims but I think we also need to be concerned about the victims of rising tuition and inadequate financial aid.""
Suder said he would like more information about the specifics of the plan before he would make a judgment.
""If we can help hurricane victims without a negative effect on Wisconsin students I think we'd consider it,"" Suder said. ""I think if the UW is simply asking for new money they might have a little difficulty in getting it.""
Bradley said the Regents hope the lawmakers will approve the plan. He said that there are about 125 students currently enrolled at UW schools and roughly 75 more that have shown interest.
In convincing legislators to support the tuition waivers he said, ""Basically you appeal to somebody's sense of humanity and concern for the plight of others.\
