UW regents on Saturday narrowly rejected a deal reached with Republicans, according to the Associated Press. It would have given employees a pay raise and paid for construction of a new engineering building in exchange for reductions in staff positions focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The regents voted 9–8 during an emergency meeting to reject the deal reached Friday after being brokered by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
Under the deal, the system would have frozen hiring for diversity positions through the end of 2026 and shifted at least 43 diversity positions to focus on “student success.” The system also would have eliminated any statements supporting diversity on student applications.
UW–Madison also would have created a position that focuses on conservative political thought funded through donations and scrapped a program designed to recruit diverse faculty.
UW–Madison would have been forced to accept applicants who finish in the top 5% of their class at a Wisconsin high school. Applicants who finish in the top 10% of their class at a Wisconsin high school would have been guaranteed admission at regional campuses.
In exchange, lawmakers would have released money to fund the pay raise for UW employees and about $200 million that UW–Madison officials say they need to build a new engineering building on campus, as well as money to renovate dorms on the flagship campus and at UW–Whitewater.
