The Board of Regents for the Universities of Wisconsin took action on two legislative requirements in the 2025-27 state budget at a special (virtual) meeting on Thursday.
On July 3, 2025, the Wisconsin State Legislature approved 2025 Wisconsin Act 15, which required the Universities of Wisconsin to revise the Regents’ current Teaching Workload Policy as well as create a new Regent policy on Core General Education Requirements.
Under the revised Teaching Workload Policy (Regent Policy Document 20-25), full-time faculty and instructional academic staff at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee must teach no fewer than 12 credit hours per academic year plus an additional 3 credit hours during the summer. Counterparts at all other UW universities must teach no fewer than 24 credit hours per academic year and an additional 6 credit hours during the summer. Requirements are due to take effect September 1, 2026.
Some exceptions and adjustments were made, including to address part-time instructional employees’ teaching workload requirements, accommodations for sabbaticals and leaves, and consideration of other duties and responsibilities. The policy also directs the Board to develop a buyout plan, subject to approval by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, allowing for the reduction of the number of credit hours an instructional employee is required to teach.
“I’d like to emphasize that consulting with shared governance on these issues has been, and will continue to be, a critical part of the process,” said Board President Amy Bogost. “The process does not end with today’s votes. There will be policies required at both the system and university level arising from these discussions and there will almost certainly be opportunities for further engagement.”
At the special meeting, the Board also approved a new Regent policy that seeks to make sure all credits for core general education requirement courses are transferable between UW universities.
Moving forward, UW Administration and UW universities will continue to engage and consult with shared governance in any system or campus level policies developed under this new Board policy.
“The role of shared governance in this process is absolutely essential, and the curriculum and course design will continue to be in control of the faculty,” said President Bogost.
The next meeting of the Board of Regents for the Universities of Wisconsin will be December 4-5, 2025, hosted by UW-Whitewater.