UW System Board of Regents President John Robert Behling announces the creation of a workgroup to explore streamlining the hiring process for System and institutional leadership. The group will also consider options to increase the number of applicants from non-academic backgrounds.
“We have a wonderful group of chancellors and system leaders. As the responsibilities of university leaders continue to evolve, universities across the country have benefited from being open to hiring individuals from non-academic backgrounds, including the private sector and government,” says President Behling. “The Board of Regents needs to make sure that our hiring process allows for a diverse pool of candidates that reflect the changing dynamics of higher education.”
The administrative hiring workgroup is charged with reviewing the current process by which university chancellors, provosts, vice chancellors, and System presidents and vice presidents are hired. As part of the process, the group will review hiring practices in other states and examples of non-academic executive level hires at other universities.
Regent Vice President Drew Petersen will chair the workgroup, which includes:
- Regent Gerald Whitburn, Vice-chair
- Regent Tracey Klein
- Chancellor Bob Meyer, UW-Stout
- Provost Aaron Brower, UW-Extension
- Professor Joe Heim, UW-La Crosse
- Vice Chancellor Rose Smyrski, UW-Platteville
- Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs James Henderson, UW System
- Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources & Workforce Diversity Shenita Brokenburr, UW System
“We want to ensure the UW System’s search process produces the best candidates, and does so in an efficient and effective manner,” says Board Vice President Petersen. “This will help the UW System compete for the best leaders, both in and out of academia. Our students, faculty and taxpayers deserve no less.”
The workgroup is expected to provide its recommendations to Board of Regents President Behling later this fall.