UW System President Jay Rothman Fired by Board of Regents
Republicans in the legislature have expressed concern about the decision
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents unanimously voted to fire Jay Rothman from his position as UW president on Tuesday, April 7.
This decision followed a closed-door meeting with the Board earlier in the day. Rothman was asked last week to either resign or be fired, which he believed was not in the best interest of the UW System. He said the regents never gave a clear reason why he should leave.
Rothman began his tenure as the ninth president of the UW System in 2022. In that position, he oversaw 13 public universities across Wisconsin. The UW System serves 164,600 students and awards nearly 37,000 degrees each year.
“He worked hard to bring the best to the campuses, students, faculty, and staff,” the Board of Regents said in a statement following the firing. “Despite these accomplishments, based on the annual performance review and subsequent discussions, the Board has lost confidence in President Rothman’s ability to lead the UWs moving forward.”
A separate statement challenged Rothman’s claims that the removal was sudden and without clear cause. “President Rothman was not without notice, nor was this process sudden. The Board has engaged with President Rothman in good-faith discussions over the past several months,” the statement said. “At a time of profound change in higher education, this decision is about the future. The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship.”
Rothman’s firing has left Republican lawmakers furious. State Rep. Dave Murphy responded before the Board’s decision and said the “lack of transparency is unacceptable.”
“The Board owes Wisconsin taxpayers, students, and families a full explanation,” Murphy said.
Republican State Sen. Patrick Testin released a statement on X. “Make no mistake about it, the firing of UW President Rothman is a blatant partisan hatchet job,” he said. Rothman’s firing was him being “punished for not being liberal enough.”
Republican State Sen. Rob Hutton also responded in a statement, saying the Board of Regents were “distracted by politics and unable to concentrate on addressing the big picture challenges.”
“Instead of focusing on major structural and curriculum reforms throughout the entire system, the Regents seem determined to stray into backroom maneuvering that further diminishes the reputation of the UW brand,” Hutton said.
Governor Tony Evers, who previously served on the board, did not take a position. “It’s their call,” he said.
Chris Patton, the vice president for university relations, will temporarily serve as acting executive-in-charge. The Board of Regents said it has “immediately moved forward in its work to identify the successor.”
Rothman’s exit comes just months after University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin was announced as the next president of Columbia University.