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Category: Higher Education/System

UW-Madison water main break fuels Regents’ concerns over system’s aging infrastructure

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison’s June water main break that continues to disrupt campus air conditioning has prompted broader concerns from the UW Board of Regents about the aging infrastructure at the state’s 13 public universities.

Several Regents at a virtual meeting Thursday said the Universities of Wisconsin needs to plan for fixing other potentially failing campus infrastructure.

 

Homeland Security caps international student stay to four years

The Daily Cardinal

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today that international students will now only be allowed to stay in the United States for four years under their visa.

The new ruling will officially be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, July 17. The ruling guts a 1978 policy, known as ‘duration of status,’ that allowed international college and university students to stay in the U.S. until their program ended.

Regents privately discussed UW system president Jay Rothman’s firing for months, records show

Wisconsin State Journal

UW Board of Regents members shared grievances about now-ousted Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman in text messages and emails in the months leading up to his firing, according to recently released records.

The Regents fired Rothman on April 7 over a loss of confidence in his leadership. The clashes first became public after someone leaked a March 26 letter to The Associated Press that Rothman wrote to Regents leaders, in which he said board leadership told him he had to retire or resign, or they would fire him.

Texts, emails reveal deep divide between UW Regents and UW president

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Many University of Wisconsin Board of Regents members privately complained to each other in text messages about UW system president Jay Rothman in the months leading up to his ouster, according to newly released records.

Board President Amy Bogost and board member Timothy Nixon described some of the problems the board had with Rothman during a legislative hearing in April, but the nearly 500 pages of records recently obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reveal a much deeper divide between Rothman and the board than was previously known.

UW-Madison disavowed ‘candidates of color’ fellowship, but then never had it removed

The College Fix

The University of Wisconsin-Madison law school made misleading statements to The College Fix about its plans to remove a racially discriminatory fellowship description.

As previously reported, a third-party database advertised a law school faculty fellowship as targeted for “candidates of color.” After being pressed for answers, Associate Director of Communications Jennie Broecker told The Fix on May 15 she would ask ProFellow to update the listing.

The public can weigh in on UW-Madison’s chancellor search this month

Wisconsin State Journal

The Universities of Wisconsin’s search for UW-Madison’s next chancellor is kicking off with public input sessions starting next week.

The 23-member committee leading the search to identify former Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s successor will gather feedback from the faculty, staff, students and the public on Monday and June 22 at two listening sessions, the university announced Tuesday.

What does UW-Madison want in its next chancellor? For starters, students say there’s some healing to do

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison’s new chancellor will be stepping onto campus within the next year.

The search is underway after Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin left UW-Madison in May to lead Columbia University, closing a four-year tenure marked by the growth of the university’s research enterprise, historic enrollment, federal policy changes and several controversial high-profile decisions.

Regents approve tuition increase for Universities of Wisconsin

Channel 3000

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a proposal to increase resident undergraduate tuition by 2 percent for the 2026–27 academic year.

“This 2 percent tuition increase represents a balanced and measured approach to addressing the rising costs our UW universities face,” said Regent President Amy B. Bogost.

The decision, by a vote of 15-1, comes after several years of significant financial restructuring across UW universities, including reductions in structural deficits, operational changes, and campus-level cost containment efforts designed to strengthen long-term financial stability.

Badgers will pay more, but UW-Madison’s tuition still low in Big Ten

The Cap Times

In-state students will once again pay a higher tuition rate to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison — but their cost remains lower than at peer schools.

On Thursday, the UW system’s Board of Regents approved a 2% tuition increase for resident undergraduates next school year. Tim Nixon was the only regent to vote against the measure.

“We’ve increased tuition four years in a row. I personally have not been provided with sufficient information to believe it is again necessary. No matter how reasonable the increase, the burden on students, parents and the public is real,” Nixon said at the board’s meeting at UW-Milwaukee.

Republicans Push Back Against UW System Tuition Increase Proposal

Wisconsin Right Now

Several Republican lawmakers are upset with the University of Wisconsin System’s proposal to increase tuition by 2% a year after a 5% increase.

Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, went as far as saying that a pair of trustees “lied to all our faces” in committee testimony when they said that tuition would not be raised again this soon.

“Unfortunately, students and their families are the ones who will be paying the price for this dishonesty,” Testin said in a statement. “At least we now know that we can no longer take the UW Board of Regents at their word.

Next UW-Madison chancellor may be chosen by end of 2026

The Cap Times

Students, faculty and staff could learn by fall who will become the next leader of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“We hope to have a new chancellor named … by the end of the calendar year, at the latest,” Jason Beier, who oversees human resources for the broader UW system, recently told a group tasked with finding Jennifer Mnookin’s replacement.

UW system proposes in-state tuition increase for fourth consecutive year

Wisconsin State Journal

Tuition for in-state students on Universities of Wisconsin campuses may increase again this fall.

The UW Board of Regents will vote Thursday on whether to raise tuition for in-state undergraduate students by 2% for the 2026-27 academic year.

If the plan is approved, in-state students at UW-Madison will pay $210 more next fall, or $10,716 total, and out-of-state students will see a 4% tuition increase, or about $1,701, raising the total to $44,232.

UW-Madison expects continued decline in number of international graduate students

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison is anticipating a smaller cohort of international graduate students on campus next fall, according to the university’s director of the graduate school.

Dean of the Graduate School William Karpus said at a campus meeting last week that fewer international students have applied to graduate programs, and the university has also admitted a smaller number than in previous years for next fall.

Hack at UW, elsewhere exposes dangerous weakness in online education

Wisconsin State Journal

College students might imagine many nightmare scenarios during finals week:

  • A damaged laptop entombs an important essay.
  • The least useful member of a group project accidentally deletes the shared Google document.
  • A burrito consumed on the eve of a crucial presentation fulfills an untimely revenge.

But what if these horrors weren’t yours alone? What if all students and their professors found themselves living a shared nightmare at the worst possible time?

Opinion: Has the University of Wisconsin Really Abandoned DEI?

City Journal

Universities across the country have wound down their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in recent years, following criticism of the programs’ patterns of racial discrimination and compelled speech. In some cases, DEI roles were not removed but simply renamed and moved to other departments. In fact, a recent Inside Higher Ed survey found that 43 percent of universities have rebranded their DEI initiatives. The names change; the agenda remains the same.

Tom Still: These ‘moonshots’ are grounded in engineering know-how

Wisconsin State Journal

The term “moonshot” most often reminds people of the Apollo space program that first landed astronauts on the moon in 1969 or April’s Artemis II mission, which was the first crewed flight beyond Earth’s orbit since 1972.

Devesh Ranjan, the new dean of UW-Madison’s College of Engineering, is hoping people will also associate “moonshots” with lofty research goals in the coming decade.

 

UW Madison holds graduation ceremony for doctoral, MFA and medical students

ABC 27

UW Madison hosted its first commencement ceremony of the year for doctoral, MFA and medical students on May 8.

Honorary degree recipient and UW graduate Speaker Tia Nelson spoke about her work in conservation and environmental protection. “The most complex problems we face will take more than persistence. They will take people with the courage to try something new,” Nelson said.

UW-Madison’s College of Computing and AI dean speaks with For the Record

Channel 3000

For the first time in 40 years, UW-Madison is launching a new college.

The university has named Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau as the founding dean of the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, set to officially open on July 1.

As artificial intelligence continues to grow, so do its criticisms.

Lifelong Learner: Resources, support can help with returning to college

Wisconsin State Journal

Being a student at any age is a challenge, but returning to college as an adult with a job, caretaking roles and other responsibilities requires a special kind of balancing act.

Leslie Wright knows this all too well. After an attempt at college in the 1990s, she left and later earned her associate degree. Wright entered the workforce but stepped away to raise children. Through volunteer work and as a school board member in Oregon, she saw a need for mental health support in schools. She overcame obstacles to go back to school, and she’ll finish her bachelor’s in psychology this summer.

Closures Contributed to Deep Cuts in April

Inside HigherEd

Officials at the public flagship said in a recent court filing that the university may have to lay off up to 160 employees if it doesn’t get clarity on federal funding in the near future, The Cap Times reported.

At issue is an effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to impose conditions on financial disbursements. USDA has asked states to agree to conditions to continue receiving funding, including ensuring federal money won’t be used to “promote gender ideology” or diversity, equity and inclusion practices. In March, 21 states sued the USDA over the preconditions; though UW Madison is not a plaintiff, the state of Wisconsin is.

Maria Woldt named director of Dairy Innovation Hub

WTAQ
On June 1, Maria Woldt will become the third director of the Dairy Innovation Hub, a state-funded initiative that brings together scientists, farmers, businesses, and educators to explore new ideas to ensure Wisconsin’s $52.8 billion dairy sector remains globally competitive while advancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

UW-Madison plans pay raises for 548 faculty in high-demand fields By Becky Jacobs

The Cap Times

Nearly 550 faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are set to receive pay raises this month as part of efforts to attract and retain faculty in high-demand fields of study.

State lawmakers provided $27 million annually and created an annual appropriation to the UW system in the current state budget for the compensation. Over 2,300 faculty members across the state’s 13 public universities are receiving raises through the funding, said Mark Pitsch, a UW system spokesperson.

Opinion: How to fill 3 big university jobs in Madison | Our View

Wisconsin State Journal

The chancellor is leaving.

The president got fired.

The athletic director jumped before he could be pushed.

That’s a lot of turnover at the top for UW-Madison and the 13-campus Universities of Wisconsin. It’s also an opportunity to reset priorities for higher education in Madison and across the state. The Regents and others who will help fill these jobs need to get this right.

UW system launches search for UW-Madison’s next chancellor

Wisconsin State Journal

The Universities of Wisconsin has launched a national search to identify UW-Madison’s next chancellor.

Acting UW system head Chris Patton and UW Board of Regents President Amy Bogost appointed a group of 23 faculty, staff, students and people from the Madison area to identify UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s successor.

UW-Madison research leader is among science advisers Trump dismissed

Wisconsin State Journal

President Donald Trump’s dismissal on Friday of the independent board that advises the National Science Foundation included UW-Madison’s top research leader.

Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota Grejner-Brzezińska was one of the 22 current members on the board that advises Congress and the president on the National Science Foundation’s operations. President Joe Biden appointed her in 2023 when she was working at Ohio State University.

UW-Madison warns in court filing that 160 employees may be laid off

The Cap Times

If University of Wisconsin-Madison administrators don’t get more clarity on new federal funding rules soon, the university’s Division of Extension may lay off up to 160 employees.

Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska, who oversees UW-Madison’s $1.93 billion research operation, recently outlined that concern in a court declaration filed as part of a broader lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

UW-Madison names founding dean of College of Computing and AI

Channel 3000

UW-Madison named Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau as founding dean of the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence as the school prepares to launch the new college on July 1.

Approved in December by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents, the college is the first academic division created at UW-Madison in more than 40 years.

University Of Wisconsin receives $100 million for its new AI college

Yahoo News/University Business

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has received $100 million in private gift commitments for its new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, which is set to launch on July 1, 2026.

The donations come from what’s referred to as the Catalyst Collective — a group of alumni, business leaders and corporate partners who have pledged major investments in the college. The alumni donors include Andy Konwinski, cofounder of Laude, Databricks and Perplexity AI; John Morgridge, former chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, and Tashia Morgridge, a retired special education teacher; Signe Ostby, a former marketing executive; and Jeff Tangney, cofounder and CEO of Doximity. The contributors also include Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit; and Epic, a software company based in Verona, Wisconsin.

University Of Wisconsin Receives $100 Million For Its New AI College

Forbes

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has received $100 million in private gift commitments for its new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, which is set to launch on July 1, 2026.

The donations come from what’s referred to as the Catalyst Collective — a group of alumni, business leaders and corporate partners who have pledged major investments in the college. The alumni donors include Andy Konwinski, cofounder of Laude, Databricks and Perplexity AI; John Morgridge, former chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, and Tashia Morgridge, a retired special education teacher; Signe Ostby, a former marketing executive; and Jeff Tangney, cofounder and CEO of Doximity. The contributors also include Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit; and Epic, a software company based in Verona, Wisconsin.

UW-Madison announces $100 million gift, dean for new AI college

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison on Monday announced a $100 million donation and dean for the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence that will hold its first classes next fall.

The investment comes from a group of alumni and industry leaders and is intended to help swiftly recruit and hire 50 new faculty, expand research and build programs for the college, which opens July 1.

UW–Madison’s reach throughout Wisconsin adds up to $38.9 billion a year

Wisconsin State Journal

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s core mission has long held that the work of the university should benefit the entire state. A newly released study now quantifies that commitment, estimating that the university, its affiliated organizations and the startup companies it generates contribute $38.9 billion annually to Wisconsin’s economy.

UW-Madison’s new provost rejects reactive response to threats, challenges

Wisconsin State Journal

Around framed photos of his dogs and Badger merchandise, a paper name plate on John Zumbrunnen’s desk in Bascom Hall at UW-Madison has the word “interim” crossed out with a pen.

After nine months as interim provost, Zumbrunnen secured his role as the university’s chief academic officer and second-ranking official after a national search this winter. As provost, he oversees academic programs and budget planning.

Cardinal View: UW’s leadership turnover is an opportunity to reevaluate value

The Daily Cardinal

The University of Wisconsin System has undergone a striking series of leadership changes over the past few months. In February, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced her departure for Columbia University. A couple weeks ago, the Regents terminated President Jay Rothman, and most recently, Athletic Director Chris McIntosh announced his exit.

Who wants to be the next UW system prez?

Isthmus

You’re one of the smartest people in the country. You’ve had success throughout your career, academically and professionally. You serve on several boards of international businesses and joined public policy debates. You’ve answered questions on national issues posed by conservative and liberal talk show and podcast hosts.

But you might write the following note turning down a suggestion that you apply to be the next president of the Universities of Wisconsin.

UW Regents reveal rifts behind UW system president’s firing

Wisconsin State Journal

UW Board of Regents leaders on Thursday defended their decision to oust the Universities of Wisconsin president, describing a man who had successes, but who also had a top-down management style and clashed with the Regents on several occasions.

The Regents on Tuesday night unanimously voted to fire Jay Rothman, without any public discussion, drawing criticism from legislative Republicans that the board wasn’t being transparent.

Republicans threaten to oust UW Regents for firing UW system President Jay Rothman

Wisconsin State Journal

Republican lawmakers are threatening to remove members of the UW Board of Regents after the Board asserted its own authority to fire the Universities of Wisconsin president.

The Regents unanimously voted without discussion Tuesday to fire President Jay Rothman, who has led the about 165,000-student and 13-university system since 2022.

 

Eschenfelder named interim L&S dean at UW–Madison

Wisconsin State Journal

Kristin Eschenfelder, a professor and associate dean, will serve as the interim dean of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s largest academic unit, the College of Letters & Science.

The appointment is effective on May 17, concurrent with the beginning of Dean Eric M. Wilcots’s term as interim chancellor.

Eschenfelder, who has been on campus since she joined the Information School faculty in 2000, has served as the L&S academic associate dean and associate director for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences since it launched in 2019.

Fired UW system President Jay Rothman says he was ‘blindsided’ by ouster

Wisconsin State Journal

Fired Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman told The Associated Press on Wednesday in his first interview since the ouster that he was “blindsided” by the move but has no hard feelings and is unlikely to sue.

Rothman was fired on Tuesday night in a unanimous vote by the board of regents following a roughly 30-minute closed-door discussion. Regents have not given a reason for firing Rothman, who was in the job for just under four years.