By SCOTT BAUER and TODD RICHMOND Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Universities of Wisconsin system president could lose his job during a closed-door regents meeting Tuesday.

The Board of Regents scheduled a meeting for 6 p.m. EDT to consider firing Jay Rothman, the leader of the system that oversees the state's four-year universities, including the flagship Madison campus. The regents have not given a clear reason why they're considering terminating Rothman, who has served a little more than four years in the top leadership post.

The vote is scheduled just five days after The Associated Press first reported that the regents asked Rothman to either resign or be fired. Rothman said in two letters to the regents that he would not leave voluntarily without knowing what he did wrong.

Regent President Amy Bogost said in a statement Monday that the board has shared results of a performance review with Rothman, with "direct conversations and clear feedback regarding leadership expectations." She said the system needs "a clear vision" but did not elaborate on the review's findings.

Rothman countered Tuesday with his own statement insisting regents repeatedly declined to cite a specific reason for finding no confidence in his leadership. No one ever indicated to him that an evaluation could lead to termination, he said, adding that Bogost called his review "overwhelmingly positive."

"It is disappointing that the first I heard any sort of defense of their position was when they communicated with the media," Rothman said. "I am left to conclude that, at best, this reflects an after-the-fact rationalization of a decision that was previously made."

The secrecy has drawn the ire of Republicans who control the Legislature and the system's budget.

"This lack of transparency is unacceptable," said GOP state Rep. David Murphy, chair of the Assembly's colleges and universities committee. "President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership."

Murphy said he planned to hold a public hearing so regents can "explain their reasons for pursuing his removal." The state Senate's committee that oversees higher education scheduled a hearing for Thursday with 10 regents invited to attend and testify.

Rothman has served as president of the 165,000-student, multicampus system since January 2022. The former chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner law firm, Rothman had no prior experience administering higher education.

He has spent his tenure lobbying Republican legislators to increase state aid for the system in the face of federal cuts, navigating free speech issues surrounding pro-Palestinian protests, and grappling with declining enrollment that has forced eight branch campuses to close. Overall enrollment across the system has remained steady under his leadership.

He has to tread carefully dealing with a Republican-controlled Legislature and a Board of Regents where all current members were appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Rothman brokered a deal with Assembly Republican Speaker Robin Vos in 2023 that called for freezing diversity hires and creating a position at UW-Madison focused on conservative thought in exchange for Vos releasing money for UW employee raises and tens of millions of dollars for construction projects across the system.

The regents initially rejected the deal only to approve it in a second vote held just days later. Evers said at the time the deal left him disappointed and frustrated.

Asked Monday about the move to oust Rothman, Evers didn't take a side. "It's their call," he said of the board.

The fight over Rothman's future comes as the flagship Madison campus is losing its chancellor. Jennifer Mnookin is leaving in May at the end of the current academic year to take the job as president of Columbia University.

Rothman makes $600,943 annually as UW president. He can be fired for no stated reason and he has no appeal rights, said Wisconsin employment law attorney Tamara Packard, who reviewed Rothman's contract at the AP's request.

Under the contract, Rothman would have to be given six-months' notice of his termination. In practice, what usually happens is the person is told to focus on transitioning their duties and not actually work in the office any longer, Packard said.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents scheduled a Tuesday vote to consider firing the system's president, who refused their offer to quietly resign because he said no reason had been given for the surprise ouster.

Jay Rothman said in two letters sent to regents that he would not resign from leading the 165,000-student system without an explanation of what he had done wrong.

Board of Regents President Amy Bogost said in a statement Monday that Rothman "was not without notice, nor was this process sudden."

"The Board has engaged with President Rothman in good-faith discussions over the past several months," she said.

The board scheduled the termination vote for 5 p.m. Tuesday. Rothman did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

The vote is scheduled for just five days after The Associated Press first reported that the board asked Rothman to either resign or face being fired.

Rothman has been president of the multicampus university system since 2022. His letters were the first public indication that Rothman's job was in jeopardy and took university and state government officials by surprise.

The move to quickly and quietly oust Rothman drew fire on Friday from Republican state Rep. David Murphy, chair of the Wisconsin Assembly's colleges and universities committee.

"This lack of transparency is unacceptable," Murphy said. "President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership."

Bogost said it was a time of "profound change" in higher education and "this decision is about the future."

"The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, support our comprehensive universities and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties," she said.

Rothman's tenure has been marked by his efforts to increase state funding amid federal cuts, debates over free speech on campus amid pro-Palestinian protests, and declining enrollment leading to eight branch campus closures even as enrollment overall held steady.

Rothman can be fired for no stated reason and he has no appeal rights, said Wisconsin employment law attorney Tamara Packard, who reviewed Rothman's contract at the AP's request.

Under the contract, Rothman would have to be given six-months' notice of his termination. In practice, what usually happens is the person is told to focus on transitioning their duties and not actually work in the office any longer, Packard said.

Rothman has had to navigate negotiations with a Republican-controlled Legislature during his tenure and a board of regents with a majority of appointees from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The board was controlled by Evers appointees when Rothman was hired.

Evers is not seeking a third term, meaning there will be a new governor next year with the power to make appointments to the board of regents. The board is in charge of hiring and firing university leaders.

Evers, when asked Monday about the board's desire to oust Rothman, didn't take a side.

"It's their call," Evers said of the board.

The fight over Rothman's future also comes as the flagship Madison campus is losing its chancellor. Jennifer Mnookin is leaving at the end of the current academic year in May to take the job as president of Columbia University.

Rothman, the former chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner law firm, had no prior experience administering higher education.

His salary as UW president is $600,943.