The Universities of Wisconsin president Jay Rothman has been fired by the UW Board of Regents, which voted unanimously Tuesday to remove Rothman from his position, ending his tenure immediately after a brief closed-door meeting that capped a weeks-long standoff between the president and the board.

Regents said their decision followed an annual performance review and months of discussions that ultimately led them to lose confidence in Rothman’s leadership, but offered no specific explanation for the firing.

Board president Amy Bogost reiterated in a statement that Rothman had been given “direct conversations and clear feedback regarding leadership expectations.” She maintained the process was not sudden, saying the board had engaged Rothman in good-faith discussions over several months.

“At a time of profound change in higher education, this decision is about the future. The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, supports our comprehensive universities, and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce, and communities across all 72 counties,” Bogost’s statement said.

Rothman has disputed that characterization. In letters to regents, he said he was never given a clear reason for the board’s change in stance and was surprised to learn that a majority had lost confidence in him. He said regents initially preferred that he announce a departure effective at the end of 2026, but he refused to resign without a substantive explanation, which led to the board terminating his employment on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, I am left to conclude that any basis for a board finding of no confidence in my leadership will be, at best, an after-the-fact rationalization of a decision that clearly has already been made without the benefit of any recent meeting of the Regents and despite all the successes and transformative accomplishments during my tenure as president,” Rothman said in an April 1 letter.

Rothman also said he was not allowed to address the board before the vote and described his most recent evaluation as overwhelmingly positive. In a March 26 letter, Rothman listed 37 specific accomplishments.

The dispute first became public after letters Rothman sent to regents were reported by The Associated Press on Thursday. The board had previously met in closed session multiple times, including in September and October, to discuss his performance, as well as again on April 1.

In a statement following Tuesday’s vote, regents acknowledged Rothman’s accomplishments, crediting him with taking on structural financial challenges and helping stabilize university budgets. They thanked him for his service and dedication.

Vice president for university relations Chris Patton will serve as acting executive-in-charge until an interim president is appointed. Regents said they have already begun searching for Rothman’s successor and expect to share more details in the coming weeks.

Rothman, who became president in January 2022, led the 165,000-student system as its first leader without a traditional higher education background. Before taking the role, he spent decades at the Milwaukee-based law firm Foley & Lardner, including serving as chairman and CEO. His position leading UW was a limited appointment, meaning he served at the pleasure of the board and could be dismissed at any time.

During his tenure, Rothman worked to secure increased state funding, including what he described as the largest operating budget boost in two decades. He also negotiated a 2023 deal with Republican lawmakers to secure funding for raises and construction projects in exchange for limits on diversity hiring and the creation of a conservative thought position at UW–Madison, navigated free speech issues surrounding pro-Palestinian protests, and grappled with declining enrollment that has led eight branch campuses to close.

His annual salary was $600,943.

The decision to fire Rothman has triggered swift reaction from Republicans in Madison.

Sen. Rob Hutton, a Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, said the move has thrown the system into turmoil and scheduled a hearing to review regent appointments. Ten of the board’s 18 members have yet to be confirmed by the Senate, which has the authority to remove them.

Rep. Dave Murphy, who leads the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, also announced plans for a hearing.

Outside government, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business group, voiced support for Rothman and urged regents to reconsider what it called a “capricious, unfair, and possibly partisan attempt” to remove him.

“WMC has also appreciated (Rothman’s) vision, which includes focusing on the workforce needs of Wisconsin employers, delivering a world-class education to students, providing value to taxpayers, and enhancing the reputation of the Univerisites of Wisconsin,” the statement says.