Ousted Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman cast the UW Board of Regents as dysfunctional and called for changes, such as fewer and better-educated board members.
“The change must start at the top with the Board of Regents,” he wrote in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed.
Rothman lost his job April 7 when the board unanimously voted to fire him. Board President Amy Bogost cited a loss of confidence in his leadership, and later elaborated to a legislative committee that Rothman’s controlling management style and lack of urgency in addressing key priorities were among their concerns.
Rothman was taken aback by the board’s termination. He said he was told to step down by board leaders without being given a significant explanation, and he refused on principle. He will remain on the payroll through Oct. 8 and has 90 days to vacate the state-owned home he lived in as part of the job, according to his termination letter.
Rothman has given a handful of media interviews since his termination, but his op-ed offers new insight on what he believes drove the dustup. He didn’t outright blame the board but rather implied it is falling short by outlining how he believes a well-functioning board should operate.
“To be functional, the board must provide clear direction to the leadership of UW Administration, which, in turn, requires strong and decisive board leadership,” Rothman wrote. “Each of the 18 regents cannot be providing directives to system leadership about what they individually would like to see accomplished. Board leadership must build a consensus among the regents and only then provide direction to system leadership.”