UW-System President Defends Campus Diversity Programming

Thursday, June 22nd, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

(By Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio) University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman defended campus diversity programming this week as Republican state lawmakers consider cutting university funding by around $32 million because of opposition to those efforts.

According to Rich Kremer with the Wisconsin Public Radio, during a State Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue hearing Monday that focused on the future of higher education in Wisconsin, Rothman reiterated his support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campuses. He said those efforts are aimed at ensuring universities are welcoming and students from all backgrounds feel they belong.

The hearing came two days after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told the audience at the Republican Party of Wisconsin's state convention that DEI stands for "division, exclusion and indoctrination."

Vos said "in many ways" America has achieved a colorblind society. He said that's something Black, white, gay, Hispanic, rich and poor people should be proud of. "But when we get to kids, when we get to the university, we begin to say that DEI is the new religion for the left," Vos said.

"They don't go to church on Sunday, but they have no problem using taxpayer dollars to evangelize on every college campus across the state. We have to stop it, put our foot down and not allow it to continue."

At Monday's hearing, State Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, also voiced skepticism about the UW's DEI efforts. "I know the chancellor at UW-Whitewater is all over DEI, and that's his main thrust," Nass said. "Unfortunately, it's not other items like graduation rates and cost and classes that perhaps should be eliminated."

Nass insinuated that UW campuses, specifically UW-Whitewater, are enrolling students that campus leaders "know are not going to get out the other side" or "aren't capable of that level of work in a college campus" and saddling them with student debt.

UW System President Jay Rothman pushed back, saying UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King, who started his role March 1, is focused on financial sustainability at his campus. Rothman then asked Nass if the UW should continue pursuing a women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program or others aimed at enrolling more veterans and first-generation students.

"Are we really not going to have programming to assist our first generation students who have more courage than I could possibly imagine to take that plunge?" Rothman said. "Those are all issues that DEI cover. I think those are important things not only for the state to ensure that we have enough graduates coming in, but it's also that those are the right things to do for society."

Nass told Rothman he thinks those types of DEI programs "are cover for what else is going on" and mentioned comments from parents angered about a UW-Madison student orientation that he said spent 25 minutes on voter registration. The rest of Monday's discussion focused on state funding for UW campuses and Wisconsin technical colleges, inflation and projected decline in the number of high school graduates.

Rothman, along with UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone and Wisconsin Technical College System President Morna Foy, said without additional investments, their institutions won't be able to sustain current operations or meet needs of students and employers.

Foy and Waukesha County Technical College President Richard Barnhouse said they rely on a variety of funding sources like state aid, tuition and local property taxes to meet a growing and more diverse population of students seeking career training.

The tech college system requested an additional $75 million in state aid over fiscal years 2024 and 2025 expand the pool of skilled workers in Wisconsin, increase the number of minority students who graduate and increase the number of credits earned by working adults.

In turn, the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee approved a state aid increase of around $9.4 million.

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