Madison, Wisconsin.. The Wisconsin Universities Board of Trustees has scheduled a vote on Tuesday to consider dismissing the system presidentfrom He declined their offer to quietly resign because he said no reason had been given for the sudden ouster.
Jay Rothman said in two letters to regents that he would not resign from leadership of the 165,000-student system without explaining what he had done wrong.
Board of Guardians President Amy Bogost said in a statement Monday that Rothman “was not without warning, and this operation was not a surprise.”
“The Board has engaged with Chairman Rothman in good faith discussions over the past few months,” she said.
The board of directors has scheduled a vote on the termination at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Rothman did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
The vote is scheduled just five days after The Associated Press Reported for the first time That the board of directors asked Rothman to either resign or face firing.
Rothman He has been president of the multi-university system since 2022. His letters were the first public indication that Rothman’s job was in jeopardy and caught university and state government officials by surprise.
The move to quickly and quietly fire Rothman drew criticism Friday from Republican state Rep. David Murphy, chairman of the Wisconsin Assembly’s Commission on Colleges and Universities.
“This lack of transparency is unacceptable,” Murphy said. “Chairman Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership.”
Bogost said this is a time of “profound change” in higher education and “this decision is about the future.”
“Wisconsin’s universities must be led with a clear vision that protects and strengthens our flagship university, supports our comprehensive campuses and ensures we meet the evolving needs of our students, our workforce and our communities across all 72 counties,” she said.
Rothman’s tenure was marked by his efforts to increase government funding amid federal cuts, debates over free speech on campus amid pro-Palestinian protests, and declining enrollment that led to the closing of eight campuses even as enrollment remained generally flat.
Rothman could be fired without specific cause and has no appeal rights, said Wisconsin employment law attorney Tamara Packard, who reviewed Rothman’s contract at the AP’s request.
Under the contract, Rothman must receive six months’ notice of his termination. In practice, what usually happens is that the person is asked to focus on transitioning their duties and not actually working in the office anymore, Packard said.
Rothman has had to navigate negotiations with the Republican-controlled Legislature during his tenure and a Board of Regents that includes a majority of appointees from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The board was controlled by Evers appointees when Rothman was appointed.
Evers is not seeking a third term, meaning there will be a new governor next year with the power to make appointments to the Board of Regents. The Board of Directors is responsible for hiring and firing university leaders.
When Evers was asked Monday about the board’s desire to fire Rothman, he did not take sides.
“It’s their calling,” Evers said of the board.
The fight over Rothman’s future also comes as the main campus in Madison loses its chancellor. Jennifer Mnookin He will leave his position at the end of the current academic year next May to take over as president of Columbia University.
Rothman, former president and CEO of Milwaukee-based Foley & The Lardner Law Firm had no previous experience in higher education administration.
His salary as president of the University of Wisconsin is $600,943.