Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 36 - University of Wisconsin system.
36.11 - Powers and duties of the board of regents.

36.11 Powers and duties of the board of regents.
(1) Protection of people; custody and management of property.
(a) The board may promulgate rules under ch. 227 to protect the lives, health and safety of persons on property under its jurisdiction and to protect such property and to prevent obstruction of the functions of the system. Any person who violates any rule promulgated under this paragraph may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both.
(b) Except as provided in this paragraph and ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), the board may purchase, have custody of, hold, control, possess, lease, grant easements and enjoy any lands, buildings, books, records and all other property of any nature which may be necessary and required for the purposes, objects and uses of the system authorized by law. Any lease by the board is subject to the powers of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority under s. 233.03 (13) and the rights of the authority under any lease agreement, as defined in s. 233.01 (6). The board shall not permit a facility that would be privately owned or operated to be constructed on state-owned land without obtaining prior approval of the building commission under s. 13.48 (12). Subject to prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1), the board may sell or dispose of such property as provided by law, or any part thereof when in its judgment it is for the best interests of the system and the state. All purchases of real property shall be subject to the approval of the building commission. The provision of all leases of real property to be occupied by the board for use other than for student housing shall be the responsibility of the board. The provision of all leases of real property to be occupied by the board for use as student housing shall be the responsibility of the department of administration under s. 16.84 (5), except for leases in effect on July 14, 2015, regardless of any subsequent extension, modification, or renewal, which shall be the responsibility of the board.
(c) The board may promulgate rules under ch. 227 for the management of all property under its jurisdiction, for the care and preservation thereof and for the promotion and preservation of the orderly operation of the system in any or all of its authorized activities and in any or all of its institutions with forfeitures for their violation, which may be sued for and collected in the name of the board before any court having jurisdiction of such action. Forfeitures shall not exceed $500.
(cm) The board shall promulgate rules under ch. 227 prescribing the times, places, and manner in which political literature may be distributed and political campaigning may be conducted in state-owned residence halls. No such rule may authorize any activity prohibited under s. 11.1207 (3) or (4).
(d) All fines imposed and collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the county treasurer for disposition in accordance with s. 59.25 (3) (f) and (j). All forfeitures, including forfeitures of posted bail if any, imposed and collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the county treasurer for disposition in accordance with ss. 778.13 and 778.17.
(e) Subject to prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1), the board, with the approval of the building commission, may sell or lease state-owned residence halls to another state agency or nonstate nonprofit agency for purposes of alternate use.
(2) Police authority.
(a) The board shall have concurrent police power, with other authorized peace officers, over all property subject to its jurisdiction, and all property contiguous to such property at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside if owned by a nonprofit corporation the primary purpose of which, as determined by the board, is to benefit the system. Such concurrent police authority shall not be construed to reduce or lessen the authority of the police power of the community or communities in which a campus may be located. All campus police officers shall cooperate with and be responsive to the local police authorities as they meet and exercise their statutory responsibilities. The designated agents of the board may arrest, with or without warrant, any person on such property who they have reasonable grounds to believe has violated a state law or any rule promulgated under this chapter and deliver such person to any court having jurisdiction over the violation and execute a complaint charging such person with the violation. This subsection does not impair the duty of any other peace officers within their jurisdictions to arrest and take before the proper court persons found violating any state law on such property.
(b) The board may employ police for the institutions and chiefs to head such police, or contract for police, all of whom shall be deemed peace officers under s. 939.22 (22) under the supervision and control of the appropriate chancellor or the chancellor's designees. Such police officers shall meet the minimum standards established for other police officers by the law enforcement standards board or a comparable agency. Such police shall preserve the peace on all property described under par. (a), enforce all rules promulgated under this chapter and all other laws, and for that purpose the chancellor or the chancellor's designee may call for aid from such other persons as is deemed necessary.
(3) Admission of applicants.
(a) The board shall establish the policies for admission within the system and within these policies each institution shall establish specific requirements for admission to its courses of instruction. No sectarian or partisan tests or any tests based upon race, religion, national origin of U.S. citizens or sex shall ever be allowed in the admission of students thereto.
(b) Subject to s. 36.31 (2m), the board shall establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits between institutions within the system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a course at an institution within the system under the program under s. 118.55. If the board determines that postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil under the program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under this paragraph, the board shall permit the individual to take an examination to determine the individual's competency in the subject area of the course and, if the individual receives a passing score on the examination, shall award equivalent credits to the individual.
(c) Subject to s. 36.31 (2m), the board may establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits with other educational institutions outside the system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a course at an educational institution outside the system through the program under s. 118.55. If the board determines that postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil under the program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under this paragraph, the board shall permit the individual to take an examination to determine the individual's competency in the subject area of the course and, if the individual receives a passing score on the examination, shall award equivalent credits to the individual.
(cm) The board shall establish and maintain a computer-based credit transfer system that shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. All transfers of credit between institutions within the system.
2. Program-specific course requirements in the system.
3. Technical college collegiate transfer program offerings, as defined in s. 38.01 (3).
4. Other courses for which the transfer of credits is accepted under par. (b) or (c).
5. Core general education courses that are subject to the agreement required under s. 36.31 (2m) (b).
(d) Each institution that has any of the following applicants shall charge a uniform application fee to that group of applicants:
1. Undergraduate applicants.
2. Graduate school applicants.
3. Law school applicants.
4. Medical school applicants.
(4) Injunctive relief. The board may obtain injunctive relief to enforce this chapter or any rules promulgated under this chapter.
(5) Insurance.
(a) The board may procure liability insurance covering the members of the board, any officer, employee, or agent, or such students whose activities may constitute an obligation or responsibility of the system.
(b) The board may procure insurance to cover injuries sustained by students as a result of their participation in intercollegiate athletics. With respect to any of the risks to be covered by the insurance, the board may contract for the services of a claims administrator and may obtain coverage by any combination of self-insurance, excess or stop-loss insurance or blanket insurance.
(6) Financial aids.
(a) The board may:
1. Make grants to students from funds budgeted to or controlled by the system and formulate policies and promulgate rules for the grants.
2. Make grants equivalent in value to the payment of incidental fees to disabled residents of the state who are recommended and supervised by the department of workforce development under s. 47.02.
(b) The board may not make a grant under par. (a) to a person whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the person provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).
(c) By February 10 of each year, the board shall develop and submit to the higher educational aids board for its review under s. 39.285 (1) a proposed formula for the awarding of grants under s. 39.435, except for grants awarded under s. 39.435 (2) or (5), for the next fiscal year to students enrolled in the system.
(7) Confer degrees. The board may confer such degrees and grant such diplomas as are usual in universities or as it deems appropriate.
(8) Parking rules.
(a) The board may make general policies and shall authorize the chancellors to adopt rules regulating the parking of motor vehicles on property under their jurisdiction. Such rules shall not be subject to ch. 227.
(b) The board shall establish fines for the violation of any rule made under par. (a). The institutions are authorized to collect such fines together with moneys collected from the sale of parking permits and other fees established under par. (a), to be used for the purpose of developing and operating parking or other transportation facilities, or campus safety or transportation-related programs, at the institution at which collected or for enforcing parking rules under par. (a).
(8e) Parking fees. The board shall direct each institution within the system to charge a parking fee for the parking of motor vehicles by students, faculty, academic and university staff, and visitors at campus. The board shall require the fee to be sufficient to recover the costs of the construction and maintenance necessary for the parking facilities. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to require the recovery of the costs of land for parking facilities. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to require that all users of the parking facilities be charged a parking fee. College campus facilities owned by a county are not required to charge a parking fee.
(9) Condemnation. The board may acquire by condemnation proceedings under ch. 32 such parcels of land as it deems necessary for the use of any institution whenever the board is unable to agree with the owner upon the compensation therefor, or whenever the absence or legal incapacity of such owner, or other cause, prevents or unreasonably delays, such agreement.
(10) University fund. The board may expend such portion of the income of the university fund on or at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as is appropriated by the legislature for the erection of buildings and the purchase of equipment or books.
(11m) Investment of certain moneys.
(a) The board may manage the investment of any revenues designated by the board, including revenues from gifts, grants, and donations, by doing any of the following:
1. Directly employing a financial manager to oversee the investment of these funds.
2. Contracting with the investment board to manage the investment of these funds.
3. Selecting a private investment firm using the competitive sealed proposal process described in s. 16.75 (2m).
(am)
1. If the board employs a financial manager under par. (a) 1. or selects a private investment firm under par. (a) 3., the designated revenues shall be managed in accordance with the investment policies established by the board and in compliance with the requirements under s. 112.11 if the designated revenues comprise an institutional fund, as defined in s. 112.11 (2) (e), or consistently with the same standard of responsibility under s. 112.11 (3) (b) if the designated revenues do not comprise an institutional fund.
2. If the board contracts with the investment board under par. (a) 2., the designated revenues shall be managed as provided in s. 25.17 (9m).
(b) Notwithstanding ss. 25.14 (1) (a) and 25.17 (1) (g), the board is not required to deposit revenues designated under par. (a) in the state investment fund if the board invests these moneys as provided in pars. (a) and (am).
(15) Tax deferred annuities. The board may continue all salary reduction agreements with its employees pursuant to section 403 (b) of the internal revenue code. The board may enter into new salary reduction agreements with its employees pursuant to section 403 (b) of the internal revenue code or other applicable federal law and may purchase annuities for its employees pursuant to these agreements from such annuity providers, both public and private, as the board deems appropriate.
(16) Commencement of fall semester. The board shall ensure that no fall semester classes at any institution, except medical school classes, graduate health science classes, and 4th year classes at the school of veterinary medicine, commence until after September 1.
(17) Sabbatical leave for instructional faculty. The board may grant sabbatical leave of up to one year to instructional faculty, in order to recognize and enhance teaching efforts and excellence, under rules and procedures adopted by the board, subject to the following conditions:
(a) Sabbatical leave may be granted only to those faculty members who have completed 6 or more years, or the equivalent, of full-time instructional service in the system.
(b) Only one sabbatical leave may be granted for each 6 years of full-time instructional service in the system with preference given to those who have been making significant contributions to teaching and have not had a leave of absence except under s. 103.10, regardless of source of funding, in the previous 4 years.
(c) Sabbatical leave shall be granted for the purposes of enhancing teaching, course and curriculum development or conducting research or any other scholarly activities related to instructional programs within the field of expertise of the faculty member taking such leave.
(d) Sabbatical leave shall be approved by appropriate faculty and administrative committees.
(e) A faculty member shall receive compensation while on sabbatical leave, but such compensation, when combined with outside compensation earned while on leave, shall not exceed the full compensation normally received from the system.
(f) The faculty member taking a sabbatical leave shall agree to return to the institution from which leave was granted for at least one year after the termination of the sabbatical or return any compensation received from the system during the sabbatical.
(g) Funding for the sabbatical leave program shall be provided from the existing general operations appropriation for the system.
(19) Furnishing of services to school districts.
(a) The board may furnish, and school districts may accept, services for educational study and research projects and they may enter into contracts under s. 66.0301 for that purpose.
(b) A group of school districts, if authorized by each school board, may form a nonprofit-sharing corporation to contract with the state or the board for the furnishing of the services specified in par. (a).
(c) The corporation shall be organized under ch. 181 and shall have the powers there applicable. Members of the school boards specified in par. (b) may serve as incorporators, directors and officers of the corporation.
(d) The property of the corporation shall be exempt from taxation.
(e) The corporation may receive gifts and grants and be subject to their use, control and investment as provided in s. 118.27, and the transfer of the property to the corporation shall be exempt from income, franchise and death taxes.
(21) Controlled substances and controlled substance analogs; discipline. Any student who engages in an activity, on campus or at an event sponsored by a college campus or institution or by the system, that constitutes a violation of ch. 961 is subject to nonacademic misconduct disciplinary sanctions, as provided by the board by rule. In determining the appropriate sanction, the board or its designee shall consider those penalties, including suspension and expulsion, that will contribute most effectively to maintaining a system environment that is free from controlled substances, as defined in s. 961.01 (4), and controlled substance analogs, as defined in s. 961.01 (4m).
(22) Orientation program; information on sexual assault and sexual harassment.
(a) The board shall direct each institution and college campus to:
1. Incorporate in its orientation program for newly entering students oral and written or electronic information on sexual assault and sexual harassment, as defined in s. 111.32 (13), including information on sexual assault by acquaintances of the victims and on all of the following:
a. The legal definitions of, and penalties for, sexual assault under ss. 940.225, 948.02 and 948.025, sexual exploitation by a therapist under s. 940.22 and harassment under s. 947.013.
b. Generally available national and state statistics, and campus statistics as compiled under par. (c) and as reported under par. (d), on sexual assaults and on sexual assaults by acquaintances of the victims.
c. The rights of victims under ch. 950 and the services available at the institution or college campus and in the community to assist a student who is the victim of sexual assault or sexual harassment.
d. Protective behaviors, including methods of recognizing and avoiding sexual assault and sexual harassment and locations in the community where courses on protective behaviors are provided.
2. Annually supply to all students enrolled in the institution or college campus printed or electronic material that includes all of the information under par. (a).
(b) Annually, the board shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3). The report shall indicate the methods each institution and college campus have used to comply with par. (a).
(c) Any person employed at an institution who witnesses a sexual assault on campus or receives a report from a student enrolled in the institution that the student has been sexually assaulted shall report to the dean of students of the institution. The dean of students shall compile reports for the purpose of disseminating statistical information under par. (a) 1. b.
(d) Annually, each institution shall report to the department of justice statistics on sexual assaults and on sexual assaults by acquaintances of the victims that occurred on each campus of the institution in the previous year. The department of justice shall include the statistics in appropriate crime reports published by the department.
(27) Condition on financial assistance. The board may not provide any state financial assistance under this chapter to any person during the period that the person is required to register with the selective service system under 50 USC, Appendix, sections 451 to 473 if the person has not so registered.
(28) Lease agreement with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. Subject to 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 9159 (2) (k), and subject to any prior lease entered into under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1), the board shall negotiate and enter into a lease agreement with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority that meets the requirements under s. 233.04 (7) and shall comply with s. 233.04 (7g).
(28m) Affiliation agreement with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. Subject to 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 9159 (2) (k), the board shall negotiate and enter into an affiliation agreement with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority that meets the requirements under s. 233.04 (7m) and shall comply with s. 233.04 (7p).
(29) Other agreements with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. The board may enter into joint purchasing contracts and other contracts, rental agreements and cooperative agreements and other necessary arrangements with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority which may be necessary and convenient for the missions, objects and uses of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority authorized by law.
(29r) Economic development assistance reporting.
(a) In this subsection, “economic development program" means a program or activity having the primary purpose of encouraging the establishment and growth of business in this state, including the creation and retention of jobs, and that satisfies all of the following:
1. The program receives funding from the state or federal government that is allocated through an appropriation under ch. 20.
2. The program provides financial assistance, tax benefits, or direct services to specific industries, businesses, local governments, or organizations.
(b)
1. The board shall coordinate any economic development assistance with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
2. Annually, no later than October 1, the board shall submit to the joint legislative audit committee and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) a comprehensive report assessing economic development programs administered by the board. The report shall include all of the information required under s. 238.07 (2). The board shall collaborate with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to make readily accessible to the public on an Internet-based system the information required under this subsection.
(36) Aquaculture demonstration facility. The board, in consultation with representatives of the aquaculture industry, shall operate the aquaculture demonstration facility authorized under 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9107 (1) (i) 3.
(40) Center for cooperatives. The board shall maintain a center for cooperatives at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
(43) Programming at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The board shall ensure that the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay implements programming that is jointly developed by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Oneida Tribe.
(47) Armed forces. If a student who is a member of a national guard or a member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces withdraws from school after September 11, 2001, because he or she is called into state active duty or into active service with the U.S. armed forces, the board shall do all of the following:
(am) Reenroll the student beginning in the semester in which he or she is discharged, demobilized, or deactivated from active duty or the next succeeding semester, whichever the student prefers.
(bm) Give the student the same priority in registering for courses that the student would have had if he or she had registered for courses at the beginning of the registration period.
(c) At the student's request, do one of the following for all courses from which the student had to withdraw:
1. Reimburse the student all tuition and fees paid for all the courses and a prorated portion of room and board payments.
2. Grant the student an incomplete in all the courses and permit the student to complete the courses, within 6 months after leaving state service or active service, without paying additional tuition or fees.
(d) Ensure that the student is provided a reasonable opportunity to complete final projects and final examinations for all courses in which the scheduled end date of the course is not more than 30 days after the date of the order calling the student into active duty or service unless such an accommodation cannot be reasonably made.
(47m) Service members; priority registration.
(a) In this subsection, “service member" means a person who has served or is serving on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces, in the national guard, or in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces.
(b) The board shall ensure that a student who is a service member is given priority in registering for courses at any college campus or institution.
(48) Report on utility charges; assessment of certain utility charges. The board shall ensure that the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports annually to the department of administration on utility charges in the following fiscal year to fund principal and interest costs incurred in purchasing the Walnut Street steam and chilled-water plant enumerated under 2003 Wisconsin Act 33, section 9106 (1) (g) 2. and in renovating and adding an addition to the Charter Street heating and cooling plant enumerated under 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, section 9106 (1) (g) 3., and the methodology used to calculate those charges. The board may not assess the utility charges until the charges are approved by the department of administration.
(50) Reserve officer training corps. The board may not allocate general purpose revenue for the operation of an institution or college campus that prohibits the reserve officer training corps from operating on its campus.
(51) Automobile allowance. The board may not use general purpose revenue, tuition, or academic fees for the president's or the chancellors' automobile allowance.
(52) Midwestern Higher Education Compact dues. The board shall make full annual payments of membership dues to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
(53m) Designation of building projects. The board shall not designate any part of a state building project that is subject to approval under s. 13.48 (10) (a) as a separate building project.
(54) Employee reports.
(a) In this subsection, “backup position" means a position that the board is contractually required to provide for an employee who resigns or is terminated from his or her current position.
(b) Annually, the board shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) and to the governor that identifies the number of employees with limited appointments under s. 36.17 and rules promulgated thereunder, the number of employees with concurrent appointments, and the number of employees with employment contracts that require backup positions but who have not yet resigned or been terminated from their current positions.
(55m) Classified research. The board may accept research contracts involving government security classifications or other similar restrictions on participation in research or access to or dissemination of research results, if all of the following are satisfied:
(a) The research furthers national security interests.
(b) The educational interests of all participating students are adequately protected.
(c) Appropriate facilities, infrastructure, and administrative resources are available for the research, either on campus or at off-campus locations.
(d) The sponsors of the research cover all additional costs associated with the security requirements of the research.
(e) The conditions for accepting the contracts and conducting the research are established pursuant to a process approved by the chancellor, in consultation with the faculty, of the institution at which the research is to be conducted.
(56) Travel policies. Effective July 1, 2013, the board shall establish travel policies for system employees and a schedule for the reimbursement of system employees for travel expenses. Beginning on January 1, 2018, except with respect to contracts in effect on that date, this schedule may not provide for reimbursement of system employees for lodging expenses incurred in this state at a rate that exceeds the maximum rate for lodging expenses incurred in the same location in this state under the approved uniform travel schedule incorporated under s. 20.916 (8) (b) into the current compensation plan under s. 230.12 (1).
(57) Classification of segregated fees.
(a) The board shall revise its policies regarding student segregated fees to ensure that the classification of those fees as allocable or nonallocable is consistent across institutions.
(b) The board shall submit the revised policies under par. (a) to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the revised policies within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the revised policies are considered approved and may be implemented. If, within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the revised policies, the revised policies may be implemented only upon approval of the committee.
(c) Notwithstanding s. 36.27 (1), the board may not approve an increase in the allocable portion of segregated fees at any institution until the joint committee on finance has approved the board's revised policies in the manner provided in par. (b).
(58) Transfers to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation. The board may not transfer funds to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation, Inc., unless the transfer is first approved by legislative enactment.
History: 1973 c. 335; 1975 c. 39, 41, 224, 400; 1977 c. 29, 418; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (8); 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27, 366; 1983 a. 435 s. 7; 1983 a. 484; 1985 a. 62, 120; 1985 a. 332 ss. 47, 49, 50; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1987 a. 27, 287; 1989 a. 31, 56, 121, 177, 359; 1991 a. 39, 203, 250, 269, 285, 315; 1993 a. 16, 213, 227, 399; 1995 a. 27 ss. 1757 to 1762y, 9130 (4); 1995 a. 201, 404, 448; 1997 a. 3, 27, 128, 237; 1999 a. 9, 29; 1999 a. 150 ss. 7, 351; 2001 a. 16, 22; 2003 a. 33, 69, 149, 282; 2005 a. 25, 253, 324, 470; 2007 a. 20, 85, 125; 2009 a. 28, 59, 302; 2011 a. 32, 175; 2013 a. 20, 56, 289; 2015 a. 55, 117, 185; 2017 a. 59, 215, 365; 2019 a. 36, 46, 75; 2021 a. 159, 165.
The Board of Regents has the power to make reasonable rules governing student use of automobiles on university property and can enforce them by imposing reasonable monetary penalties and withholding records. A student court can be designated by the board as an auxiliary enterprise. Moneys collected must be paid into the general fund. By regent action, they may be appropriated therefrom for operation of that activity. 59 Atty. Gen. 82.
The University of Wisconsin System may sell a dormitory that no longer is needed for educational purposes upon terms that are agreeable to the Wisconsin state agencies building corporation and H.U.D. to guarantee the payment of the bonds issued for the initial construction of the building. 63 Atty. Gen. 252.
Campus police have jurisdiction under sub. (2) to arrest only on campuses unless deputized by a sheriff. Local ordinances are not applicable on campus. 68 Atty. Gen. 67.

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