MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents is scheduled to vote Tuesday to consider firing the system’s president, but the chancellor rejected an offer to quietly resign as he said he gave no reason for the unexpected removal.
In two letters to the board, Jay Rothman said he would not resign from leading the 165,000-student system without explaining what he had done wrong.
Board President Amy Bogost said in a statement Monday that Rothman “did not come without notice and the process was not sudden.”
“The board has had honest discussions with President Rothman over the past several months,” she said.
The board is scheduled to hold a termination vote on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Rothman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The vote is scheduled to take place five days after The Associated Press first reported that the board was calling for Roseman to resign or face being fired.
Rothman has served as president of the multi-campus university system since 2022. His letter was the first public indication that Rothman’s job was in jeopardy, surprising university and state officials.
The swift and quiet move to oust Rothman on Friday drew criticism from Republican Rep. David Murphy, chairman of the Wisconsin Assembly’s Colleges and Universities Committee.
“This lack of transparency is unacceptable,” Murphy said. “President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the board has lost confidence in his leadership.”
Bogost said this was a time of “profound change” in higher education and “this decision is about the future.”
“UW must lead with a clear vision to both protect and strengthen our flagship, support our comprehensive university and ensure we meet the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities in all 72 counties,” she said.
Rothman’s tenure has been marked by his efforts to increase state funding amid federal funding cuts, sparking debate over free speech on campus amid pro-Palestinian protests and declining enrollment that led to the closure of eight campuses even as enrollment overall remained stable.
Tamara Packard, a Wisconsin employment lawyer who reviewed Roseman’s contract at the request of The Associated Press, said Roseman can be fired without cause and has no right to appeal.
Under his contract, Roseman must receive six months’ notice of termination. In practice, Packard said, what often happens is that people are told to focus on transitioning their responsibilities rather than no longer working in the office.
During his tenure, Rothman had to negotiate with the Republican-controlled Legislature and the Board of Regents, most of whom were appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. When Rothman was hired, the board was controlled by Evers appointees.
Evers is not seeking a third term, which means there will be a new governor next year with the power to appoint board members. The Board of Trustees is responsible for hiring and firing university leaders.
Evers took no position Monday when asked whether the board wanted to remove Roseman.
“That’s their decision,” Evers said of the board.
The fight over Rothman’s future also comes as Madison’s flagship school district loses its principal. Jennifer Mnookin will leave at the end of the academic year in May to take over as president of Columbia University.
Rothman, the former chairman and CEO of the Milwaukee law firm Foley & Lardner, had no previous experience managing higher education.
His salary as president of the University of Wisconsin is $600,943.