Universities of Wisconsin Regents Reject Deal to Freeze Diversity Hiring

The rejected deal would have released funds for pay raises and construction in exchange for reductions in diversity-focused positions and changes in admission policies.

Universities of Wisconsin regents voted 9-8 to reject a deal with Republicans that would have frozen hiring for diversity positions, dropped an affirmative action faculty hiring program, and created a position focused on conservative thought.
The deal would have also forced UW-Madison to accept applicants who finish in the top 5% of their class at a Wisconsin high school, and guaranteed admission at regional campuses for those who finish in the top 10%.
In exchange, lawmakers would have released funds for employee pay raises and about $200 million for a new engineering building at UW-Madison, as well as money for dorm renovations.
Republican lawmakers had previously refused to release funding for the engineering building and blocked pay raises until the university system cut spending on diversity-promoting positions.
The decision has sparked criticism from both sides, with Republicans accusing the universities of prioritizing ideological campaigns over employee benefits and infrastructure investments, and Democrats accusing Republicans of holding employees hostage by blocking pay raises.