MADISON, WISCONSIN — The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents attempted to force system President Jay Rothman to retire or face being fired, prompting Rothman to publicly resist the effort. The board met behind closed doors on Wednesday in Madison to discuss personnel matters.

Rothman, who has held the post since 2022, disclosed the push to remove him through letters sent to board members. In a March 26 letter to the board president, Rothman wrote, "When I asked you to articulate reasons for the Board's conclusion and apparent lack of confidence in me, you merely noted that each Regent has his or her own perspective on the matter." Before those letters became public, the regents had not publicly aired concerns about his performance.

In the same letter, Rothman wrote, "I am not prepared, as a matter of principle, to submit my resignation." In a separate letter sent Wednesday to two regents, he wrote that they told him if he did not resign, they were prepared to meet over the weekend to fire him.

It remained unclear whether the board could fire the president without cause. A spokesperson for the UW System said they were checking on what the law allows regarding the matter. The board has not publicly stated its reasons for the no-confidence finding. No statement was available from the board or its president.

The UW System, created in 1971 by the Wisconsin state Legislature, enrolls 165,000 students across the flagship Madison campus, 12 other universities, and several branch campuses. The system president reports to the 18-member board of regents and oversees vice presidents and chancellors who run the individual campuses, as well as staffing and operations at the system's administrative offices. Rothman is the eighth person to hold the position.

During Rothman's tenure, declining enrollment led to the closure of eight branch campuses. Debates over free speech arose on UW campuses during pro-Palestinian protests, and Rothman made efforts to increase state funding as federal cuts continued. In 2023, he raised the possibility of resigning when the board rejected a deal with the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The board later reversed its vote and approved the deal.

Before joining the university system, Rothman spent his career as an attorney and rose to chairman and CEO of Foley & Lardner, a Milwaukee-based law firm with 1,100 attorneys and 22 offices nationwide. He holds a bachelor's degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee and a law degree from Harvard University.

The system also faces a leadership transition at its flagship campus. Jennifer Mnookin is leaving her position as chancellor of UW–Madison to become president of Columbia University, and the system will need to replace her in 2026.