The UW System Board of Regents centered Thursday meeting discussion around a recent update to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed state budget, which included a detailed description of a multiple-request motion passed during the May 29 Joint Finance Committee meeting.
The 70-point motion will reduce the $300 million budget cut to the UW System down to $250 million, place tenure-related decisions under Regent Policy and keep shared governance within state statute as an advisory body to chancellors.
The Board of Regents Education Committee voted 4-3 on an amended resolution to officially pass tenure as a Board of Regents Policy after a series of debates Thursday, according to a UW System release.
“We want to make sure and guarantee that tenure remains as a tenet, as a pillar of higher education,” UW System President Ray Cross said in the release.
Tenure was removed from state statute at the Joint Finance Committee meeting May 29, leading the Board of Regents to add it to their own policy.
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank requested the Board of Regents place tenure in their own policy in an online blog post Wednesday.
“I pledge to do everything in my power as chancellor to develop a set of campus policies and procedures to guide the ways in which this proposed statute is used,” Blank said in the post. “Removal of tenure should always be a last-case option.”
Blank was not present at Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting, but will be present Friday, according to UW-Madison Communications Executive Director John Lucas. UW-Madison Vice Provost for Finance and Administration Darrell Bazzell and Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf attended Thursday’s meeting in place of Blank.
Until the state budget is officially passed by the state Senate and Assembly this month, Cross reminded Regents to focus on the long-term goals of the UW System instead of arguing.
"We must never forget who we are, what we are, what we're here to do and why it is so important," Cross said.
