Select Page

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents endorsed a proposal offering its flagship UW Madison new freedoms while also delivering long-sought, management flexibilities to the unified UW System’s other fleet universities, colleges and UW Extension.

On March 10, the Board of Regents supported the proposal – dubbed the “Wisconsin Idea Partnership” – amid ongoing debate over Governor Scott Walker’s biennial budget and its “New Badger Partnership.” That proposal calls for the spinoff of UW Madison from UW System into an autonomous public authority, overseen by a separate, appointed board.

In a statement March 10, UW System President Kevin Reilly said the Wisconsin Idea Partnership alternatively preserves the benefits UW Madison seeks while extending many of the same budget and operational flexibilities to all UW campuses and UW Extension in a unified system.

“The good news here is that Governor Walker recognizes that universities need to do business

differently,” Reilly said in the statement. “We’ve been asking for new administrative and managerial flexibilities for years – decades perhaps – and this Governor gets it. We want to offer the Governor and the Legislature a way forward that is simple, reasonable and equitable.”

UW Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells echoed Reilly, calling the Wisconsin Idea Partnership a win-win proposal that grants all campuses transformative flexibilities to propel Wisconsin’s highly-regarded UW System forward.

“Giving our unified UW System universities and colleges greater ability to do things such as command more efficient hiring processes, innovatively manage their energy budgets and independently oversee construction projects on their campuses would help save and better utilize millions of dollars while preserving and expanding educational excellence throughout our state,” Wells said. “This proposal is good for the UW Madison flagship, the fleet that sails with it and the state citizens who have, for decades, been the ultimate beneficiaries of our world-class UW System.”

Read more: