A new resolution asking state Legislature to reduce the proposed $300 million biennial budget cuts and provide the UW System with greater flexibility over operations, passed unanimously at the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents meeting Thursday.
Regents said they will call upon the Legislature to provide the flexibilities either through an approved public authority model or amendments to current state statutes, according to a UW System release.
Board of Regents President Michael Falbo requested the creation of two task forces to suggest additional procedures surrounding tenure and shared governance.
“If shared governance and tenure are going to be removed from state law, I believe we should take the opportunity to create solid policy statements in these two areas that are so fundamental to our System,” Falbo said in the release.
Regent Margaret Farrow said she wants the board to work closely with state legislators to determine the exact extent of the proposed budget cuts.
“If we’re going to be speaking to legislators … we have to provide our own facts instead of the way they want the facts formulated for them by the Fiscal Bureau, so we almost have to have those ready to give them the rest of the story,” Farrow said.
The proposed budget includes the removal of the requirement for shared governance to be backed by state law. The Regents created another resolution that would grant the board the autonomy to create their own policies regarding shared governance and tenure if the budget is passed.
“I am really concerned about [the future of] this university,” UW System President Raymond Cross said. “This volatility and instability is not good for an organization for long periods of time.”
Jake Skubish contributed to this article.
