Wisconsin Board Votes on Firing University System President

Rothman refused to quietly resign after being asked to do so by the Board of Regents.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:19am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty university administrative office space, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the desks and chairs, creating a contemplative and uncertain mood around the future of public higher education leadership.The sudden and opaque attempt to remove the UW system president has raised concerns about transparency and the board's decision-making process.Madison Today

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on whether to fire the system's president, Jay Rothman, who refused their request for him to quietly resign. Rothman said no reason had been given for the surprise ouster, and the board said it was a time of 'profound change' in higher education requiring new leadership.

Why it matters

The move to quickly and quietly remove Rothman, who has been president since 2022, has drawn criticism from state lawmakers over a lack of transparency. Rothman's tenure has included efforts to increase state funding, debates over free speech on campus, and declining enrollment leading to campus closures.

The details

The board scheduled the termination vote for Tuesday evening. Rothman said he would not resign without an explanation of what he had done wrong. Board President Amy Bogost said Rothman 'was not without notice, nor was this process sudden,' and that the board had engaged in 'good-faith discussions' with him over several months.

  • The board scheduled the termination vote for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Rothman has been president of the 165,000-student UW system since 2022.

The players

Jay Rothman

The president of the Universities of Wisconsin system who refused to resign when asked by the Board of Regents.

Amy Bogost

The president of the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

David Murphy

The Republican chair of the Wisconsin Assembly's colleges and universities committee, who criticized the lack of transparency in the board's actions.

Tony Evers

The Democratic governor of Wisconsin, who appointed the majority of the Board of Regents members when Rothman was hired.

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What they’re saying

“This lack of transparency is unacceptable. President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership.”

— David Murphy, Chair, Wisconsin Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee

“The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, support our comprehensive universities and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties.”

— Amy Bogost, President, Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents

What’s next

The Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on whether to terminate Rothman's contract as president of the Universities of Wisconsin system on Tuesday evening.

The takeaway

The sudden and opaque attempt to remove the UW system president has raised concerns about transparency and the board's decision-making process, underscoring the political tensions and evolving challenges facing public higher education leadership.