AFT-Wisconsin Stands Against the Universities of Wisconsin’s Proposed General Education Plan

Act 15 requires (see page 141) the Board of Regents to “establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits between institutions within the [UW] system.”

In “response,” UW System Administration has proposed a rigid, one-size-fits-all General Education program for ALL UW campuses.

UW System Administration claims a “legislative mandate” for its General Education proposal that is far beyond the text of the law.

The UW System Administration Proposal:

• Ignores state law, which affirms that “Subject to board policy the chancellors of the institutions in consultation with their faculties shall be responsible for designing curricula and setting degree requirements,” and further mandates that the Board of Regents “ensure the diversity of quality undergraduate programs” and “promote the widest degree of institutional autonomy...”
• Homogenizes our campuses, which will result in the elimination of courses and faculty across the UW System and will necessarily lead to a reduction in academic programs from which our students can choose.
• Usurps students’ right to learn, by limiting course variety.
• Violates both academic freedom and campus autonomy.
• Bypasses traditional channels of shared governance in service of a “political deal” not based in state law or policy.
• Prevents our campuses from adopting any unique requirements outside of or above the 36 credits dictated by the UW System.
• Solves a problem that doesn’t exist: Only 2% of UW System students transfer between campuses and they are already covered under existing policy (see section 6).
• Contravenes the will of shared governance: All shared governance bodies that have had time to consider resolutions on this policy have overwhelmingly adopted stances opposed to the proposal.

The UW Board of Regents must stand up for students’ right to learn, the academic freedom of faculty, and the autonomy of our campuses and vote against this proposal.

Join us! Workers of the UW System, UW System Administration would rather sell you out than protect your jobs and academic freedom. Join your AFT-Wisconsin Local to fight back against legislative and administrative overreach. We are the workers, the workers are the union, and the union is for everyone.

Other ways to take action:

• Talk to your colleagues and raise awareness of Act 15.
• Talk to your faculty senators and faculty reps to encourage them to vote in favor of resolutions opposing this proposal.
• Contact Regents and tell them to oppose this proposal.
• Contact state senators and representatives from your region and share your concerns about what this means for higher education and the future employability of students educated in our state.
• Watch this space and follow AFT-Wisconsin for future updates.