UW–Madison has announced the suspension of its search to replace Chancellor Rebecca Blank. In a new model for higher education, the university will dispense with the customary leadership role.
“We will now rely on our proud tradition of decision-making by committee,” explained a UW news release.
Drawing on the university’s shared-governance experience, a committee itself made the decision to run UW–Madison by committee. Last fall, the task force searching for a new chancellor convened at Bascom Hall following the news of Blank’s resignation and deliberated behind closed doors for nearly five months without pause. According to a UW spokesperson, University Housing provided mattresses and toiletries, and food-delivery robots were pressed into service to ferry in a steady stream of smelling salts.
On April 1, task-force members staggered out of the conference room with their momentous decision.
“We’re proud to have wrapped this up by Thanksgiving,” remarked jubilant co-chair Gene Poole, seeming to have lost track of time.
The next step in the process is to form a committee to set the parameters of a UW–Madison run by committee. A committee has been appointed to appoint this committee, with a deadline of 2024.
Added appointment-committee co-chair Sandy Beech, “Or 2025.”
Gotcha! Happy April Fools‘ Day!
