Exclusive: Universities of Wisconsin leaders looking to oust system president who refuses to quit
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Jay Rothman, president of the University of Wisconsin system since 2022, has been told by the Board of Regents to resign or face termination, but he has received no explanation and refuses to step down.
- Rothman expressed in letters that he has not been given any substantive reasons for the board's loss of confidence and described the process as indefensible, requesting but being denied a chance to discuss the issue with the board.
- The Board of Regents held a closed emergency meeting to discuss personnel matters but declined to comment on specifics, stating only that they are considering the university system's future leadership.
- Rothman's tenure has involved efforts to secure state funding amid federal cuts, managing free speech debates during protests, and overseeing campus closures due to declining enrollment.
- Rothman highlighted upcoming challenges, including replacing the Madison campus chancellor, and stated that resigning now would not serve the best interests of the university system or the state.
