AB 898

This bill restores the tenure and probationary appointment provisions for

faculty of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System that were in effect just prior to

enactment of the 2015 biennial budget act (Act 55).

Prior to Act 55, the statutes specifically authorized the Board of Regents of the

UW System to grant to a ranked faculty member a tenure appointment for an

unlimited period if certain conditions were met, including that the chancellor of the

applicable UW institution and, with an exception, the faculty member's academic

department both affirmatively recommended the tenure appointment. A tenured

faculty member could be dismissed only for just cause. The statutes also specifically

authorized the Board of Regents to make faculty probationary appointments for a

period preceding a decision on tenure. A faculty member having a probationary

appointment could be dismissed prior to the end of the contract term only for just

cause.

This bill restores the tenure and probationary appointment provisions for UW

System faculty that existed just prior to enactment of Act 55.