If a change proposed by the Massachusetts governor goes through, that state would undergo what some say would be the nation’s most aggressive change in state-university relations.

Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney proposed the plan to encourage high-profile universities to raise tuition to make up for a lack of state funding.

One of the adjustments to the university system would be to replace the school’s president, William Bulger, and his staff with a new executive office of education.

In addition, Romney proposed a plan to save $150 million by making the university’s main campus at Amherst a private institution. By separating Amherst from the state university system, the institution can depend on increased tuition instead of state aid. Romney said in his plan to bridge the budget deficit there would be layoffs of 1,400 of 13,000 employees at five university campuses.

Gov. Romney says the reorganization of the University of Massachusetts’ campuses, state colleges and community colleges would save taxpayer dollars through joint-purchasing arrangements in addition to the increased tuition and fees.

The plan also states that the reorganized schools would begin focusing on vocational education to help spur business development in the state.

UM-Amherst officials are looking forward to solving the tiresome budget issue.

“We look forward to working with our colleagues throughout the UMass system to help resolve the many complex issues facing the commonwealth. We look forward to reviewing the governor’s detailed plans,” Chancellor John V. Lombardi said.

Some professors at UMass say the reorganization plan may reflect a personal clash between Romney and Bulger.

Last December, Romney urged Bulger to testify before a Congressional committee investigating his brother, James “Whitey” Bulger, who is the leader of Boston’s most notorious organized-crime gang.

Bulger cited his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions. Because of his silence, Romney was furious but could not directly remove Bulger because his contract is in effect until 2007.

With his proposed plan to decrease the budget deficit, Romney may have found a way to oust Bulger.

Robert P. Connolly, a UMass spokesman, still believes that eradicating Bulger’s position is neither a personal nor political attack. Rather, Connolly calls it the dismantling of the university system in the best interest of the state.

Students at UMass-Amherst have mixed feelings regarding Gov. Romney’s proposal.

Bill Powers, the student trustee of the Student Government Association, says part of the proposal, which acknowledges tuition attention, is worthy.

“In the UMass system, we have two different ways in which students pay for education,” Powers said. “Tuition and fees are usually never seen by the campus, and in [Romney’s] proposal, campuses will be allowed to keep the revenue created by tuition and fees and decide where the money goes.”

Some professors at the University of Wisconsin are wary of Romney’s proposition.

“It’s a hugely ambitious effort, but it’s hard to tell if it will succeed. It certainly has a better chance in New England, with its large number of private universities,” UW political science professor Don Kettl said. “It’s easier to raise tuition there to the levels needed to compensate for the loss of state funds. But it also raises lots of questions, including the state’s role in encouraging access to higher education, that will surely stimulate big debate.”

Kettle said even if the proposal is passed by the Legislature, the probability of a plan of this sort being initiated at UW is questionable.

“Even if it succeeds, however, there’s a great deal of question about whether the experiment could — or should — be transplanted to Wisconsin,” Kettl said.

The issue of budget cutting is a nationwide problem that most campuses are trying to deal with. Many campuses have solely relied on cutting the budget by raising tuition instead of looking for an alternative solution.

“I give the Governor credit for being creative by proposing to reorganize and regionalize the UMass system,” Powers said. “It’s just a little scary when you are going to no man’s land and you don’t know what’s going to happen.”