MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Jay Rothman, the president of the University of Wisconsin system, is facing the possibility of losing his job as the Board of Regents prepares for a critical vote in a closed meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening. Since taking office over four years ago, Rothman has encountered various challenges, but the board has not publicly disclosed the reasons behind its decision to potentially terminate his contract.
The Regents had asked Rothman to either resign or face dismissal, which he has contested in letters asserting he deserves to know the specifics of their concerns. Regent President Amy Bogost confirmed that performance review results were shared with Rothman, emphasizing the need for “a clear vision” for the university system, yet refrained from detailing the review’s findings.
This lack of transparency has drawn ire from Republican legislators, who wield significant influence over the university's budget and operations. State Rep. David Murphy, chair of the Assembly’s colleges and universities committee, criticized the board's approach, advocating for Rothman to be made aware of the Board's loss of confidence in his leadership.
Rothman has overseen the academic system comprising approximately 165,000 students since January 2022. His past leadership roles primarily involved law, having been the chair and CEO of a Milwaukee-based law firm. His tenure has largely focused on advocating for funding amid federal reductions and handling sensitive issues relating to campus free speech and recent declines in enrollment that led to the closure of some branch campuses.
His efforts to collaborate with Republican lawmakers in freezing diversity hires and funding projects in exchange for salary raises for UWM employees show the complexities of navigating a politically divided environment. As discussions about Rothman continue, the UW system faces additional changes with the impending departure of Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin from the flagship Madison campus for the presidency at Columbia University.
Under Rothman's current contract, he earns $600,943 per year and could be terminated without a stated reason. If the board decides to act, they must notify him six months in advance.
