UW-Madison going down??

[Gator88NE]

The important issue in that article was not funding but rather the state (and the governor’s appointed board of regents) taking control over program decisions.

Shared governance isn’t dead at UW (neither is research or tenure). The board has always played an important role in governance.

The UW System board:

The Board is responsible for establishing policies and rules for governing the System, planning to meet future state needs for collegiate education, setting admission standards and policies, reviewing and approving university budgets, and establishing the regulatory framework within which the individual units are allowed to operate with as great a degree of autonomy as possible. The Board appoints the president of the university system and the chancellors of the 13 universities and UW-Extension and UW Colleges. The Board grants tenure appointments to faculty members.

https://www.wisconsin.edu/regents/

This isn’t much different from many other boards.

Here is a listing of responsibilities for the state of Florida Board of Trustees (each of the 12 public universities have their own Board of Trustees):.

Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
•Focus on being a policy maker by supporting the clear distinction between the policy-making functions of the Board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement these policies.
•Vote on all motions of the Board except when removal from action for conflict of interest is declared.
•Appoint and support the President.
•Ensure institutional effectiveness through professional management of the College by the President.
•Approve the annual budget.
•Annually evaluate the performance of the President.
•Approve contracts, disposition of property, and disposal of records as recommended by the President.
•Promote and support the College in its relations with the public.
•Support a climate for effective change.
•Preserve institutional autonomy.
•Protect the College and its administration from undue pressure by external bodies.
•Attend all Board meetings, Board Committee meetings and review all materials prior to the meetings to assure meaningful participation. (By state law, three consecutive absences from Board meetings must be reported to the Governor’s office.)
•Participate in Community College Trustees organizations that will keep each member abreast of state and national trends and issues in higher education.
•Be courteous and treat other Board Members with respect.
•Consider the best interest of the College at all times.

It isn’t much different. The key points are general oversight, budget approval, and selection/evaluation of the presidents/chancellors.

Most program (majors/degrees) changes still flow through the normal shared governance process. Since UW is a “System”, the board likely also makes the final decisions on which degrees are offered at each of the satellite campuses (to reduce “duplication”). If the UW-system board is similar to other system boards, it’s decisions are dominated by UW-Madison(the flagship), much to the chagrin of the other satellite campuses, when it comes to which programs can be offered at each school.

The new policy gives the board more flexibility to make changes, but still within it’s normal framework (dealing with the budgets as presented to it by each of the campuses). Don’t expect the “Walker” board to “remake” UW. The state legislature, on the other hand…