New controls are being placed on hiring at University of Wisconsin System campuses.
A directive from System President Kevin Reilly calls for all hiring decisions on UW campuses to be made directly by chancellors. System spokesman David Giroux says it's a significantly higher level of control. Those decisions are typically made by department heads.
Giroux says chancellors have been told to evaluate if a hire is essential. He says they have a good track record with making such decisions, while also protecting the quality of a UW education.
The move comes in response to projected shortfalls in the state budget which could result in cuts to the UW System. It also mirrors a directive from the Department of Administration, which is reviewing all hiring decisions by state agencies.