Amid calls for his resignation, University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly announced Tuesday he plans to leave his position at the end of the year.
Reading from prepared remarks, Reilly said it was a privilege to work for the UW System, but that he looks forward to his new position as leadership advisor for the American Council on Education.
During his comments, Reilly mentioned the hardships he experienced during his nine-year career as President, noting the debate on whether the System should stay together, the “overheated partisanship” of political culture and the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
Despite heavy criticism from the public and state officials after it was revealed the the System had almost $650 million in reserves, Board of Regents President Mike Falbo said Reilly had much to be proud of during his time as President.
Falbo added that in the course of Reilly’s term, the percentage of enrollment, degrees conferred, transfer students and private need-based financial aid grew.
“I’m here to remind you that those record numbers came in an era of the largest state budget cuts in the UW’s history – demonstrating our shared commitment to cost efficiencies and maintaining our reputation as one of the most productive and lean systems of higher education in the United States,” Falbo said.
In a statement, Gov. Scott Walker commended Reilly on his contributions to the state and the UW System. He said Reilly worked to focus the System on building the economy and training the workforce.
Joint Finance Committee Co-chairs Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said in a statement they look forward to working with a new president.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the University of Wisconsin System,” the legislators wrote. “They have a chance to start a new chapter. New leadership will go a long way to re-establishing trust that has eroded over the years.”
Reilly is set to split his time between his position as UW System president and his new position as leadership advisor for ACE. There is also a possibility he will return to teaching until the end of the year.
While Regent Vice President Regina Millner praised Reilly’s ability to hire talented leadership for UW universities, Mike Mikalsen, spokesperson for Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, who called for Reilly’s resignation in the midst of controversy over the system’s surplus, said he finds Reilly’s new position at the American Council on Education “ironic.”
“It’s interesting with all the challenges that he has had is that he is going to be hired to advise on leadership issues in terms of higher education,” Mikalsen said. “There is humor in that.”
He added that Nass, who serves as chair of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, is looking forward to having the UW System regain trust with students, faculty, taxpayers and legislators after this past year of “turmoil.”
Falbo said the UW System has already begun a national search to find candidates for the position.
Falbo said a search committee will be appointed and will “search the nation for the best possible candidate.” They plan to keep Walker’s economic development proposals in mind when looking for candidates, he said.
“We need to identify what we need and partner with the government in bringing companies to produce job opportunities,” Falbo said.
