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Regents table proposed changes to senior‑leadership hiring policy after debate over transparency and general counsel reporting
Summary
The board tabled proposed revisions to Regent Policy Document 2027 that would give the system president greater flexibility in filling senior leadership roles, after regents raised concerns about transparency and the dual reporting status of the general counsel.
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents moved to table proposed changes to Regent Policy Document 2027, which would have given the system president greater flexibility in determining search and posting requirements for senior leadership positions including senior vice presidents, vice presidents, the general counsel, and the chief audit executive.
Dan Chanin, the system’s associate vice president and chief human resources officer, presented the revision and said it was intended to reduce administrative burden and allow the president to determine "an appropriate process at the time" a vacancy occurs. "Rather than having a prescribed process in the policy, really granting that flexibility so we can make a determination at the time relieves a lot of administrative burden," Chanin said.
Several regents pushed back on the proposed language as too minimal and as insufficiently transparent. Regent Walsh said she "fully support[s] the great majority of this" but objected to including the general counsel in the same delegation because that office currently serves both the board and the system president. "I think that should be treated separately," Walsh said.
Regent Nixon asked whether the change would conflict with legal posting obligations and pressed for clarity on why the proposal described the flexibility as "essential." "Essential means it's a must... Why is this essential to have this?" Nixon asked. General counsel Quinn Williams said his practical preference is to work day-to-day with the president but described the dual-reporting arrangement as manageable in practice.
Multiple regents proposed friendly amendments, including removing the general counsel from the policy’s delegated authority and involving the executive committee in certain senior‑level appointments. After discussion, the presiding officer moved to table the item to allow additional drafting. The motion to table passed by voice vote.
The board then voted to move into closed session to consider a student request for review of a UW–Madison decision and chancellor performance evaluations, citing Wisconsin Statutes § 19.85.
