The University of Wisconsin System and Assembly Republican Speaker Robin Vos have reached a deal that would. The deal is called “evolutionary” and is expected to mend the system’s relationship with Republican legislators:
- Freeze hiring for diversity positions for three years
- Restructure staff into positions serving all students
- Accept applicants who finish in the top 5 percent of their class at a Wisconsin high school
- Guarantee admission at regional campuses for applicants who finish in the top 10 percent of their class at a Wisconsin high school
- Approve employee pay raises
- Fund a new engineering building at the flagship campus
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents on Saturday rejected a deal from the Republican-led state Legislature that would provide funding for the school system in exchange for a freeze on diversity, equity and inclusion positions.
The regents voted 9-8 against the deal, which would have unlocked $32 million for the system’s workforce development plan, paid for projects including a proposed engineering building at UW-Madison, and green-lit raises for UW employees.
The deal would have also ended UW-Madison’s Target of Opportunity Program, which is designed to ensure a diverse faculty base. The flagship campus would have had to create a professorship focused on “conservative political thought, classical economic theory or classical liberalism.”
Republican legislators, particularly Assembly Leader Robin Vos, have repeatedly attempted to block funds from going to the school system over disagreements about DEI positions.
“It’s a shame they’ve denied employees their raises and the almost $1 billion investment that would have been made across the UW system, all so they could continue their ideological campaign to force students to believe only one viewpoint is acceptable on campus,” Vos said in a statement on the Regents’ vote Saturday.
Vos promised in October to withhold pay raises from UW employees unless spending in DEI programs was cut. State Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said earlier this month that he disagreed with the move.
“I look forward to this discussion continuing in the weeks and months ahead,” Evers said. “I urge legislative Republicans to remain in those conversations so we can work together and find common ground to do what’s best for the UW System, including investing in the UW-Madison engineering building.”
In a statement Saturday, Gov. Tony Evers noted the tight margin of the Regents’ vote, and supported their decision. Evers also called on Republican legislators to stop withholding pay raises for school system employees.
