Published 15 days ago • loading... • Updated 14 days ago

Universities of Wisconsin regents cite disputes over AI and other topics in president’s firing

On Tuesday, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents unanimously fired President Jay Rothman in a closed-door meeting, providing no public explanation for removing the leader of the 165,000-student university system.
While Rothman claimed he was "blindsided" by the dismissal, Regent President Amy Bogost stated the board engaged in "good faith discussions" over months regarding leadership expectations and concerns about artificial intelligence urgency.
Regent Timothy Nixon testified Thursday that Rothman "doesn't want to upset either the Legislature, the governor or the faculty," while expert James Finkelstein said the $600,000-a-year employment agreement is "one of the thinnest we've seen" for this role.
Republican lawmakers, including Senator Rob Hutton, accused the board of "backroom maneuvering" and vowed to hold hearings and vote against confirming 10 board appointees in retaliation for the firing.
The leadership vacuum risks destabilizing the 25-campus system as stakeholders worry the political standoff will diminish the university's reputation and distract from addressing major budget and academic challenges.

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30 Articles

UW regent says former system president Rothman 'knows the truth' about his firing

MADISON — Some of the the University of Wisconsin regents pushed back Thursday on former system president Jay Rothman's claims that he was blindsided when the board fired him Tuesday.

14 days ago

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Chippewa Herald

Center

UW Regents reveal rifts behind UW system president’s firing

Among the concerns Regents had about Jay Rothman were his top-down management style and his slow response on issues that needed quicker decisions, like AI.

14 days ago

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GazetteXtra

+2 Reposted by 2 other sources

Center

UW Regents tell lawmakers about dissatisfaction with president they fired

A state Senate committee put off taking action despite threats from lawmakers to fire unconfirmed members of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents after two regents shared more details Thursday about the decision to fire former UW President Jay…

14 days ago

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Fox 6 now

Center

Universities of Wisconsin regents questioned on president's firing

Fired UW System President Jay Rothman says he was blindsided by his firing. But on Thursday, April 9, two regents pushed back on that during a Senate hearing that was all about the ousting.

15 days ago·Milwaukee, United States

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Wisconsin Public Radio

Center

UW regent calls fired president Rothman's statements 'deliberately one-sided'

The Board of Regents voted unanimously to fire Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman on Tuesday evening following closed-door discussions. The post UW regent calls fired president Rothman’s statements ‘deliberately one-sided’ appeared first on WPR.

15 days ago·Madison, United States

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WLUK

Lean Right

UW regents cite disputes over AI, other topics in president's ouster

Jay Rothman told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday that he was kept in the dark about why he was being fired and his dismissal "blindsided" him.

15 days ago·Green Bay, United States

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