News of the Day October 28, 2024
State Legislature Could Consider Proposals to Revamp UW-System

The state Legislature could consider several proposals to revamp the Universities of Wisconsin system, including spinning off the University of Wisconsin-Madison and increasing tuition.

Since July, a legislative committee has been meeting to look at the future of the state’s public university system.

The result is nearly two dozen proposals that range from limiting programs offered at UW campuses to eliminating the UW-Madison chancellor position.

On Thursday, the legislative committee met for several hours to go over the proposals and decide which ones to forward onto the Legislature for further discussion.

Any change to the UW system’s structure requires legislative approval. That would happen when the session begins next year.

The 18-member committee includes two Democratic lawmakers, two Republican lawmakers and 14 others.

Several members have said they support spinning off UW-Madison as a way to lift up the other campuses and allow the flagship university to compete on a more national level.

But Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and system President Jay Rothman are opposed to the idea.