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Students have chance to learn more about regents

A quick survey of UW-Eau Claire students revealed that many do not know what the UW Board of Regents is or what regents' jobs entail.

“No, I don’t know who they are,” said 20-year-old junior Jackie Mauer.

Senior Andrew Halverson, 29, had slightly more knowledge.

“I’ve heard of them,” Halverson said.  “I know they make some of the decisions concerning the campus, but I’m not exactly sure about all the responsibilities they have.”

Students will have a chance to meet the regents when the board conducts its meeting on Eau Claire's campus Oct. 4-5. Many of the decisions the board members make affect the everyday life of college students all over the state.

The Board of Regents is a 17-member board, established by Chapter 36 of the Wisconsin State Statutes, which governs the entire UW System.  

"They’re responsible for just about everything,” said Kevin Boatright, assistant vice president of university relations.  “They don’t manage the system.  But they’re the ultimate decision makers.”

Board decisions are numerous and far encompassing.  The board appoints the president of the UW System, the chancellors of the 13 universities, the chancellor of UW colleges and the deans of the 13 colleges.

They also appoint positions that are not as well known.  These include the state geologist, the director of laboratory hygiene, the director of the state psychiatric institution and the state cartographer.

Fifteen of the 17 members are appointed by the governor of Wisconsin.  The other two are ex officio regents, meaning they gain their positions because of offices they hold.  The two offices that garner ex officio regent positions are the superintendent of public instruction and the president of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.  Elizabeth Burmaster and Jonathan Barry, respectively, hold these offices.

Board members are appointed to seven-year terms by the governor of Wisconsin.  The lone student regent's term is the exception to that rule.  The student serves a two-year term.

Appointed in July 2001, Tommie Jones, Jr. is the first African-American student regent ever to serve on the board.

Jones, a UW-Whitewater senior, was the subject of much criticism when he used his first vote as student regent to raise tuition.

He is also one of only six regents with no ties to UW-Madison.  The other 11 completed either their undergraduate or graduate studies at the system's largest institution.

Boatright said although he doesn't think there is a conspiracy, the appointees who are linked to Madison may have had sentimental value to the former chief executive of the state.

"It's really entirely up to the governor," he said.  "Other than (Elizabeth) Burmaster and the student regent, they were all appointed by Gov. (Tommy) Thompson."

"And of course, Thompson is an alumnus of Madison."  Scott McCallum became the current Wisconsin governor when President George W. Bush appointed Thompson the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Boatright added the regents' professions may play a role in the representation on the board.

"We've had a fair amount of lawyers on the board," Boatright said.  "The primary law school in the state is at UW-Madison."

"I don't really think that's an issue though," he said of the ties with Madison.

Boatright said the board has adopted a plan called Adopt-a-Campus.  Regents will be assigned to a UW campus and will be expected to become familiar with that campus and it's traditions.  Regents Roger Axtell and Jonathan Barry have been assigned to Eau Claire.

According to Chapter 36, board members' main responsibility is to plan for the future needs of the state university system, while promoting "the widest degree of institutional autonomy within the controlling limits of system-wide policies."

"They're the ones who make the budget proposal," Boatright said, referring to some of the board members' duties.  "They're the ones who decide tuition."

"The board is also responsible for approving academic programs," he said.  "There are several things they do that affect students either formally or informally."

As the board prepares for its meeting in Eau Claire, three big issues loom on the horizon, according to Boatright.

"One is the question of funding," he said.

According to Boatright, if the state funding doesn't increase with the projected costs of running the system, the regents will have to explore other options for economic input.  These may include applying for federal funding or trying to increase alumni donations.

The second issue deals with what members of the board call "the student experience."

Boatright said the board wants to examine the entire academic process, from the time the student is admitted until the time the student graduates.

"What type of experience is the student having?," he said asking the question that the board wants answered.

According to Boatright, board members want to make that experience as smooth and as pleasant as possible.

Partnership with other institutions is the third issue that Boatright said the board will be addressing in the future.

Board members want to strengthen the relationship between UW System schools and institutions outside of the system.  These would include K-12 schools, as well as technical colleges throughout the state.

The board members will also be planning for the anniversary of the UW System in October.

Boatright said the regents will host a major dinner party in Milwaukee on Oct. 11 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the system.  The actual anniversary date is Oct. 12.