Assembly mulls geographic diversity of UW regents

July 8, 2009 (MADISON, Wis.) A bill on the topic is up for a public hearing Wednesday in front of the Committee on Colleges and Universities. It would require at least one member on the 18-member board to come from each of seven different geographical areas.

Lawmakers of both parties, many of them from out-state areas, have signed on to the plan, which would take effect in 2015.

Regents from Madison and Milwaukee dominate the current board but other regents hail from La Crosse, Green Bay and Neenah.

The board is the governing body of the UW System, which includes 13 four-year universities and 13 two-year colleges.