UW System President Rejects Board's Demand for Resignation

Jay Rothman, President of the University of Wisconsin System, has refused a request from the Board of Regents to resign or face termination, citing a lack of substantive reasons for the demand. The Board of Regents held a closed emergency meeting to discuss personnel matters, with Board President Amy Bogost confirming ongoing discussions about the system's leadership without commenting on specific personnel issues.

Board's Directive and Rothman's Response

According to letters obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, March 28, President Rothman stated he was informed by the Board of Regents that he must either resign or be terminated. Rothman, who has served as president since 2022, indicated in a March 26 letter to Board President Amy Bogost that he was told the board was prepared to terminate his employment if he did not step down.

Rothman explicitly stated in this letter that he had not been provided "any substantive reason or reasons for the Board’s finding of no confidence in my leadership," leading him to decline resignation "as a matter of principle."

Following a meeting on Tuesday with two regents who urged him to resign, Rothman sent a second letter on Wednesday. In this letter, he noted that these regents also could not provide a reason for their request. Rothman described the process as "nearly (if not completely) indefensible" and stated that his request to discuss the situation with the full board was denied.

Board of Regents' Position

The Board of Regents convened a closed emergency meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss personnel matters.

Board President Amy Bogost issued a statement affirming that "The Board is responsible for the leadership of the Universities of Wisconsin and is having discussions about its future," but declined to comment further on personnel matters.

Context of Rothman's Tenure

Rothman's presidency, which began in 2022, has been marked by several significant issues:

• Efforts to increase state funding amidst federal cuts to the university system.
• Management of debates over free speech on campus, including pro-Palestinian protests.
• Addressing declining enrollment, which has resulted in the closure of eight branch campuses across the system.

In 2023, Rothman considered resigning after the Board of Regents initially rejected a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agreement with the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature. The board subsequently approved the agreement.

Rothman emphasized that his resignation at this time would not serve the best interests of the Universities of Wisconsin or the state, particularly given the upcoming need to appoint a new chancellor for the flagship Madison campus. Current Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is transitioning to become president of Columbia University.

Background Information

Before assuming the UW presidency, Rothman served as chair and CEO of the Foley & Lardner law firm, with no prior experience in higher education administration. His current annual salary is $600,943. The Universities of Wisconsin system encompasses 13 universities and several branch campuses, serving approximately 165,000 students.