The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents is buddying up with state legislators in an effort to stimulate and improve communication.

Each UW regent was assigned two to four legislators, and according to Regent President David Walsh, the pairings were based on regents and legislators who have had contact in the past and are generally familiar with each other.

"It's all about getting more structure in our communications," Walsh said of the pairings.

Noting the importance of opening lines of contact between the Board and legislators, Walsh said more structure will benefit the relationship between the two groups.

"We're confident that if we can sit at a table with them, we can start conversation," he said. "We might not always agree … and [communication] often involves criticism, but any communication is helpful."

Mike Prentiss, spokesperson for Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who has been assigned to Walsh, also recognized the history of tension between the regents and legislators but said being "kept in the loop" with the regents will be beneficial.

"I think it's obvious that the relationship between the regents and the legislators has not been great for a variety of reasons," Prentiss said. "But we look forward to dialogue; communication is always a good thing."

According to Prentiss, the regents taking the initiative to start the regent-legislator pairings is a positive step by the Board to bring more understanding between the two bodies.

Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, who was paired with Regent Jesus Salas, shared sentiments regarding the sometimes-tumultuous relationship between legislators and the Board.

"[The regents] are under constant attack from Republican legislators," he said. "Maybe some good faith will change that."

Colon said he is pleased to be matched with Salas, as he considers to the regent to be "very well respected."

While he said communication with Salas has been good in the past, he looks forward to continued dialogue.

"I think that when [the regents] have an issue, I want to make sure I get some perspective," Colon said. "We don't always agree, but it's good to know what kind of constraints they think they have when they're making decisions."

Much of the debate between legislators and regents, Colon said, centers on issues of finance and affordability in the UW System, but Colon added the desire for progress and improvement is shared between both parties.

Prentiss echoed the optimistic outlook and noted the leaders share similar goals.

"At the end of the day, we'll all need the same thing — a world-class university system," he said.

And according to Walsh, efforts to improve lines of communication will not stop there.

Possible press conferences before Board meetings to which legislators would be invited are in the works, Walsh said.

Another possible endeavor includes an open period when regents would meet personally with legislators.

In the meantime, regents and legislators alike are anticipating positive results from the pairing assignments.

"We'll benefit from a lot of communication, even when we don't agree," Colon said. "[The pairings] can't do anything but help."