Work

“Would You Really Trade My Humanity for a Building?”: A Higher Education Budget Standoff Between the UW System and State Legislators

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This case focuses on the 2023 budget standoff between the Universities of Wisconsin (UW) and the Republican-controlled state legislature. The legislature voted to approve pay raises for UW employees, while simultaneously voting to cut UW funding by $32 million—the amount spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, the legislature decided to withhold pay raises for UW employees until the system cut all DEI programs. After multiple negotiations, a controversial deal was finalized in December 2023, which included a hiring freeze and realignment of DEI staff positions in exchange for a new engineering building and approved pay raises.

Source: Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership

DOI: 10.1177/15554589251391195

Authors: Meredith S. Billings, Ashley B. Clayton

Institutions: The University of Texas at Arlington, Louisiana State University

Language: English

Topic: Academic Freedom and Politics

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400