Axing Autonomy: How the Deal Between the University of Wisconsin System and State Legislature Represents the Degeneration of Autonomy in Higher Education Governance
Author: Olivia Woodmansee
American University
ABSTRACT
Higher Education is under attack. From the recent actions of the federal government, designed to strip funding from institutions and dictate admission and administrative action, to state governments promulgating bills and state executive orders targeting the operations of public higher education institutions. Some of these issues spark debate on a national stage, but the sheer volume and range of actions taken against both private and public universities have left many issues without a spotlight. In December 2023, the University of Wisconsin (UW) System Board of Regents approved a plan that shifted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives after a series of public threats and closed-door negotiations with the Speaker of the House of the Wisconsin State Legislature. This paper will explore the growing erosion of higher education governing board autonomy through actions of state government and ultimately recommend a path forward for the UW System that strengthens the power of its governing board. First, the paper will define the relationship of higher education governing boards and state government, paying particular attention to the formation of the UW System. Next, it will outline the agreement formed in December 2023, before finally analyzing how this agreement represents a larger, systemic problem facing higher education institutions across the country. Finally, the paper recommends the Wisconsin State Legislature grant the UW System constitutional autonomy.