UW Regents Approve GOP Deal on Funding and DEI Programs

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has reversed its position and accepted a deal proposed by Republican lawmakers, allowing for pay raises for employees and the construction of a new engineering building. However, the deal also includes a freeze on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staffing until 2026 and the elimination or refocusing of around 40 positions related to diversity. The compromise was approved after a months-long stalemate and a second vote by the board. Democratic lawmakers and campus groups had called for the rejection of the deal, arguing that it discriminates against students and staff of color.