The Board of Regents met on December 10th virtually. The Regents unanimously approved a UW System and UW-Madison biennial pay plan that includes a request for a 2% increase for fiscal year 2021-22 and a 2.5% increase for fiscal year 2022-23 for UW employees covered by the plan – faculty, academic staff, university staff, and limited appointees. The Board also approved the reduction of the electronic application fee at 10 of 13 UW System universities to $0 for new undergraduate admissions for a two-year period. This is a policy that is expected to help to boost undergraduate applications. Among the topics presented at the meeting, Interim System President Thompson outlined the UW System Prison Education Initiative, which is one of 10 key priorities identified by the UW System in its biennial budget request for 2021-23. The initiative anticipates a partnership with the Department of Corrections, the Wisconsin Technical College System, subject matter experts from UW-Madison, and UW Extended Campus to develop pilot program to deliver a bachelor’s degree pathway at three UW campuses for adults in nearby prisons. UW Oshkosh’s Master of Science in Professional Science was also approved at the December meeting.

On November 5th, the Board of Regents met on virtually. Interim System President Thompson outlined plans to host “surge testing sites” for communities on UW campuses (Oshkosh hosts such a site at the Culver Welcome Center). Regent President Peterson introduced Dr. Thomas Gibson, who was confirmed as the 15th Chancellor of UW-Stevens Point. Gibson is currently the Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Regent President Petersen also presented an update on the new Regents Opportunity Scholarship program, which expands opportunities for underrepresented and underserved students in the UW System. The Regents have committed to providing $1 million annually for the scholarship to support awards ranging from $3,000 to a maximum of $10,000. It was reported UW System campuses experienced an enrollment decrease of 6 percent among first-year students in fall 2020, which was less than the estimated drop nationally (across the US enrollment dropped 16 percent among first-year students according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center). Enrollment of underrepresented minority students increased by 2 percent on UW System campuses.