University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Votes Unanimously to Fire President Jay Rothman

Though much of the dialogue around the politicization of higher ed leadership has focused on Republican retaliation against leaders who have refused to back away from DEI mandates, leaders who agree to go the other way – working with Republican leaders to scale back DEI efforts that are coded into state law and institutional values – could see backlash as well from boards that have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure student success on campus.  

Though the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents have not elaborated on the reasons for the loss of confidence, one of the responsibilities of the system president, according to its mission statement, is to "[model and lead] organizational learning and transformation through inclusive excellence, equity, and diversity, by engaging with students, faculty, staff, and a wide variety of external stakeholders, whose diverse viewpoints and experiences enrich the university’s impact.” 

But as more states move away from upholding DEI as a policy mandate, Association of Governing Boards President and CEO Ross Mugler says the role of boards specifically in red states is to advocate for the students and faculty on their campuses. “Democrats don’t control these committees in Congress,” he said, pointing to successful efforts to get Republicans in Congress to reverse course on their initial intent to eliminate Pell grants. “Institutions remain accountable and transparent ... to the students and communities they serve,” he said, adding that while boards should not involve themselves with the day-to-day activities of the campus, they have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the campus’ leadership is equipped “to achieve student-centered outcomes [for a diverse student body] and ensure the long-term vitality of their institutions.”