Since University of Wisconsin System President Katharine Lyall
announced her retirement in February, the search for a new
president continues.

According to a website set up to offer information on the
search, the next president is likely to possess a “passion
for educating students, an appreciation and respect of faculty and
staff, an understanding of the importance of external resources,
and a commitment to the citizens of Wisconsin.”

Citizens can learn more about the search at
www.wisconsin.edu/presidentialsearch/index.htm.

UW System Board of Regents President Toby Markovich has
appointed an 18-body presidential search committee composed of a
variety of UW System members.

Search committee members include UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear;
UW-Stout student government president David Hay; Regent Jesus Salas
of Milwaukee; and UW-La Crosse political science professor Joseph
Heim.

Markovich said he hopes the committee can appoint a new
president by June 1.

Lyall said she would remain in her position until her
replacement arrives or until Sept. 1 at the latest.

“One would hope we meet the deadline,” said UW
System Director of Communications Doug Bradley. “Until we
miss the deadline, we remain hopeful.”

The UW System is composed of 26 campuses, serves more than
160,000 students a year and is the eighth largest university system
in the U.S.

The UW System members, governed by the Board of Regents, are
appointed by the governor of Wisconsin and confirmed by the Senate.
The Board of Regents sets each “university’s academic
and admission policies, capital programs, personnel policies and
budget,” according to the website.

Despite the importance of the pending replacement, some students
across the UW System display a lack of knowledge about the system,
even though it controls many aspects of their college careers.

“People know a lot more here about the Mifflin Street
Block Party than the UW System president, or the whole board for
that matter,” UW-Whitewater freshman Mike Sweeney said.
“I care [about tuition], but not enough to do anything. I
care more about the block party at the moment.”

Other students said they had heard of the Board of Regents, but
did not know what the board did.

“Reading the paper, you see a story on the Board of
Regents, and you see a story on Audrey Seiler. The Seiler story is
more interesting, so that’s what I read,” UW-Madison
junior Kristin Klingman said.

UW-La Crosse freshman Valentina Tran said she cares about her
tuition but did not know the board existed.

“I think there’s a disconnect(ion) between the students
and the board,” Tran said. “I bet you no one around
here knows about anything relating to that.”