Philosopher Alan White (UW-Manitowc) sends along this article, and writes:

[T]hrough a leak…it became known that President Ray Cross would announce a fundamental reorganization of the 26 campus University of Wisconsin System.  Our campuses in the 2-year transfer system–the UW Colleges, 13 such as one entity since the early 1970s–will now return to their status in the 60s–as branches of nearby 4-years (8 of the 13 thus).  My campus–specifically mentioned in the story below–will become a satellite of UW–Green Bay.  While tenure (or our new tenure-lite*, which applies across the entire System including Madison, and which you will recall I uselessly fought against a couple of years ago on behalf of my 13 campuses) will apparently be honored in making the transition–my 13 campus department and its Faculty Senate will be dissolved and all power will be invested in what's left of faculty governance at the 4-years.  None of this involved consultation or faculty input from any institution–Madison included.  It was leaked and then just announced today.  The Regents must approve this–but since they nearly all Walker appointees. . .  The Regents will act next month, hardly enough time for campuses to react in any reasonable way.

UW–Extension–one of the best higher-ed/agricultural/extended-education systems in the country–will cease to be a state-wide entity, and will be folded into UW-Madison.

This is the new normal in higher ed especially in conservative states.  Get used to it–or do something.

BTW, the linked article says that my campus has lost about 50% of its enrollment in the last few years, years in which the legislature cut funding, required increased contributions to pensions and benefits (despite Wisconsin having a 100% funded state retirement system, in contrast to Illinois), and thus contributed to this situation, if not deliberately manufactured it.  I mention the lost enrollment at UW–Manitowoc to contrast one fact against that:  my philosophy enrollments throughout were at the top, and fully justified my 4/4 position.  I'm retiring Jan. 1 after 36 1/2 years as Full Professor before this fiasco will play out, and I will be replaced by a 1/2 time lecturer.  Now that will no doubt make things better–well, for those who wish to downsize access to higher education maybe.