Frederica Freyberg:

The UW Board of Regents Thursday voted to approve the reorganization of the university. While two regents voted no, including the former state auditor who called for more time to study the plan, the merging of the systems two-year schools with four-year campuses moves ahead. Wisconsin Public Television, now part of UW-Extension, would move to UW System administration. System President Ray Cross says declining enrollment at two-year schools puts them in jeopardy and says he believes the time is now to make the changes even though the details have not been worked out.

Ray Cross:

My dream for the University of Wisconsin System and for the state of Wisconsin includes a future where the people of Wisconsin, regardless of their past experiences or financial circumstances, have an opportunity to earn a college degree. That means maintaining and even expanding access to the university, assuring affordability, continuing to simplify and streamline transferability, providing enhanced advising so that we can grow the number of college graduates this state so desperately needs.

Frederica Freyberg:

The changes are expected to take effect July 1, 2018.