University of Wisconsin System Regents committee okays new tenure policy

MADISON — A University of Wisconsin System regents committee has approved a new tenure policy that would allow chancellors to lay off faculty for financial reasons and fire them for poor performance.

The regents' education committee approved the policy unanimously Friday. The full Board of Regents is expected to consider it next month.

The state budget Gov. Scott Walker signed in July slashed $250 million from the system and erased faculty tenure protections from state law.

A UW System task force developed a new internal policy on tenure. Under the new rules, faculty members could be laid off in a financial emergency or if their program is discontinued. Faculty also would be subject to performance reviews every five years. Poor evaluations could result in termination.