Board of Regents postpones motion to modify process for UW Administration leadership hires (news summary)

MADISON - As part of a special videoconference meeting January 7, the Board of Regents for the Universities of Wisconsin voted to table for a future date proposed revisions to a Regent Policy Documents (RPD) that would provide flexibility for the UWs President to appoint key executive positions by reducing unnecessary administrative processes.

RPD 20-27 currently requires a proscribed process for filling a vacancy for senior leadership roles (senior vice president, vice president, general counsel, and chief auditor) at UW Administration. These positions are limited appointments and serve at the pleasure of the President.

The proposed revised policy would permit the President, after consultation with the Regent President, to determine the appropriate process when filling these vacancies.

Regents approve demolition requests

The Board of Regents approved UW System's request for authority to demolish 4 buildings at UW-Eau Claire and the old Chemistry building at UW-Milwaukee for a combined total of $17,110,300 Segregated Revenue.

As background, enumeration was requested to demolish the four buildings at Eau Claire as part of the 2023-25 capital budget. Instead, the UWs received a separate enumeration for Multi-Building Demolition across the system at $45,400,000. Since its enactment, this program has become popular with UW universities seeking to remove obsolete facilities from their inventories and operating budgets.

The four buildings at UW-Eau Claire were constructed in 1951 and are obsolete, outdated and have been replaced with the Sonnentag and Pablo buildings. The plan is to remove the buildings and reconstruct the landscape into green space with pedestrian walkways and new site lighting.

At UW-Milwaukee, the university opened a new Chemistry building in fall 2024 and is currently in the process of moving all relevant materials and equipment out of the old building to make way for its demolition. A new quadrangle will be constructed to provide green space (which is limited on this urban campus) along with associated pedestrian pathways and lighting in the area occupied by the existing building.

Removal of all five buildings will aid in the reduction of operating expenses. Vacant buildings still require minimal oversight and minimal utility service in case of fire or other damage that might occur due to adverse weather.

In other business, the Regents:

• Approved UW-Stout's request for authority to construct the Communications Technology Classroom Renovation project for $6,261,000 Segregated Revenue. UW-Stout has four classrooms, labs and associated spaces that are in poor condition, restricting their functional usage. The HVAC and electrical systems are outdated. This project constructs three new general-purpose classrooms and a digital video lab to meet the current programmatic needs of the university. New electrical and ventilation systems, light fixtures, fire alarms and AV systems complete the project;
• Approved UW System's request for authority to construct two All Agency Projects at an estimated cost of $3,544,200:
  • The project at UW-Eau Claire upgrades the nearly 60-year-old freight elevators in the Towers Residence Hall to meet code requirements. Current hydraulic piping is no longer acceptable, and parts are not available for the pump nor motors.
  • The project at UW-Madison provides repairs to Parking Ramps 17 and 75. A ramp evaluation study identified various issues with sealants, the traffic membrane, concrete repairs and structural reinforcement of the precast tees.
• Approved UW System's request for authority to construct a minor facility project at an estimated total cost of $6,085,000 Segregated Revenue on behalf of UW-Stout. The multi-building exterior envelope repair maintenance project will replace exterior windows, curtain walls, doors, hardware and lighting at the 1975 Administration Building, 1959 Communications Technology Building and at the 1961 Fryklund Hall building. Other work includes masonry tuckpointing and repairs to control joints as they've shrunk producing cracks for water penetration; and
• Approved UW-Madison's request for authority to execute two leases and possibly purchase two parcels of land to relocate the Fleet Services and Waste and Recycling Operations. As part of the university's long-range plan, the continued development of central campus activities like academic, student support or parking requires the relocation of the Fleet Garage and storage to another location. In addition, the Waste and Recycling operation in Fitchburg needs a new location. As part of the RFI process, parcels were identified to meet the needs of the combined programs in another part of Madison on Pennsylvania Avenue. One site is improved with a building complex and the other is undeveloped and will be modified to meet the needs of the two programs. The leases will be structured to allow for purchase prior to the end of year three.

The next meeting of the Board of Regents for the Universities of Wisconsin will be February 6-7, 2025, at UW-Madison.

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