Bill could increase UW Regents geography diversity

MADISON, Wis. — A state Assembly committee has advanced a measure designed to increase the geographic diversity of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

The board has 18 members, including 14 “citizen members” who are appointed for staggered seven-year terms. The other four are the state superintendent of public instruction, the president of the technical college system board and two students.

Of the 14 appointed Regents, half are currently from Milwaukee or Madison. Critics say that gives universities there extra representation at the expense of colleges in smaller cities.

The legislative bill would require that there be at least one appointed member from each of the state’s eight congressional districts.

The measure has already passed the state Senate. The full Assembly is expected to take it up sometime in October.