Ok, I haven’t followed it closely, as a UW parent, but my understanding is that Walker and the legislature were successful in removing tenure protection from State law. The Board of Regents and UW itself can provide tenure protection in their own policies, comparable to a private institution such as Northwestern. What is lost is the fact the protection is statutory. In my mind, what makes me uncomfortable, is the proposal to allow tenured faculty to be dismissed when a program is being dismantled, as that could be used a as wedge to close “unpopular” academic centers/program. UNC is being pushed to close some progressive research centers which work on poverty issues, at the insistence of its Board of Regents. Public flagships are the scapegoats for certain governors and legislatures around the country. It is unfortunate that these superb institutions are having to defend their mission before the legislature.