UW-Madison campus (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
A state budget provision that makes changes to shared governance in the University of Wisconsin System is drawing fire from student government leaders.
The budget provision added last week takes away some of the oversight currently given to students, faculty, and staff. Associated Students of Madison chair Madison Laning says it essentially gives more decision-making power to appointed chancellors and the Board of Regents. “They’re going to be able to make changes that may not be in the best interest of students and taxpayers,” Laning argues. “We’re not going to have that check on what’s happening on the university level that we do right now.”
Laning says the change would largely strip them of having a say on key financial decisions and campus policies. “A lot of decisions on this campus will be able to be made without consulting anyone.”
UW System President Ray Cross said in a statement that administrators are committed to upholding the tenets of shared governance, even with the proposed changes.