Discuss this issue with Steve Kosanovich and others

Read a profile of Roger Axtell.

Read a profile of JoAnne Brandes    Both profiles are from the UW system website

Take a look at state dollars per student at other 4 year campuses in the UW system.

For more information on Wisconsin's budget check out the State of Wisconsin's website.

For a closer look at the University of Wisconsin System's budget check out the UW Systems annual report.

Regents Guide home page

Board of Regents heavy on former Badgers

Diversity is an issue that is stressed on all of the University of Wisconsin system campuses, most of which have diversity courses built into their curricula.  However, for a university system that stresses diversity, the governing board is dominated by graduates of just one campus-- the University of Wisconsin-Madison

The University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents is made up of 17 members; 15 are appointed by the governor of Wisconsin, two are ex-officio members and one is a student regent also selected by the governor.  Currently 11 members of the board have degrees from UW-Madison. 

There may be a concern that the number of UW-Madison graduates on the board may create favoritism for the school resulting in more funds and placing other UW campuses into a second spot. 

Regent JoAnne Brandes, a graduate of UW-Eau Claire, said that impartiality is stressed to the board members for the good of the system.

"At times, the board needs to understand that the UW system extends beyond Madison," Brandes said.  "A diverse Board of Regents would be helpful to the state system, variety makes a big difference," Brandes added.

Wisconsin's budget for 2000-01 sets aside $1.03 billion for the 13 four-year campuses in the UW System, Madison receives 48.4 percent of that, nearly $400 million, which equals $9,688 per student.  It has to be noted that Madison has more expenses than its counterparts around the state.  Milwaukee, the other campus that grants doctoral degrees in the UW System, receives nearly $130 million or $5,541 per student.

The other four-year schools in the state receive between $3,764 and $5,489 per student.  UW-Eau Claire receives $49 million from the state, or $4,635 per student.

Roger Axtell, a regent with Madison ties, agreed that impartiality is stressed to the members of the board and they adhere to it as strictly as they can.

"We are responsible for all 26 campuses, extensions and two-year campuses, in the University of Wisconsin System and the funding in funneled through the system," Axtell said.

The alma mater of a regents isn't a large factor in appointment said Axtell, noting that two members of the board have ties to Marquette University.

All of the current regents except Tommie L. Jones Jr. were appointed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson, a UW-Madison alum.  The ex-officio posts are occupied by the Wisconsin School Superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster, and the director of Wisconsin's technical colleges, Jonathan B. Barry

In an attempt to acclimate the regents to all of the state's four year schools each regent is assigned two campuses which they become familiar with report on to the entire board said Axtell.

"Creating a diverse Board of Regents depends upon where the interest in filling the vacancies comes from and what each candidate can bring to the board," said Colleen Harmening, Deputy Appointments Director from Gov. Scott McCallum's office.