Assembly Bill 586 seeks to amend the governance structure at University of Wisconsin System institutions by restoring provisions to their pre-2015 form, specifically prior to the enactment of the 2015 Wisconsin Act 55. The bill repeals section 36.09 (3m) and amends sections 36.09 (4), (4m), and (5) to enhance the roles of faculty, academic staff, and students in institutional governance. The amendments emphasize that faculty, academic staff, and students shall actively participate in the immediate governance and policy development of their institutions, rather than merely advising the chancellor as previously stipulated.

The bill specifically inserts language that grants faculty, academic staff, and students primary responsibilities for governance and policy formulation, while still recognizing the overarching authority of the Board of Regents, the UW System president, and the chancellor. Notably, the amendments remove the requirement for faculty to ensure adequate representation of STEM disciplines in their organizational structure, thereby allowing for greater flexibility in faculty governance. Overall, the bill aims to restore a more participatory governance model within the University of Wisconsin System.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 36.09(3m), 36.09, 36.09(4), 36.09(4m), 36.09(5)