The Universities of Wisconsin System operates under an 18-member Board of Regents, with 16 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Of these 16 members, 14 serve staggered seven-year terms, and two UW System students serve two-year terms (one traditional, one non-traditional student). Two ex officio members include the state superintendent of public instruction and the president or designee of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. The UW System encompasses 13 public universities across the state, serving approximately 164,400 students and awarding nearly 36,000 degrees annually. The system employs approximately 35,000 faculty, academic staff, and university staff. The system operates with a $6 billion annual budget comprising state support, federal funding, tuition and fees, and private gifts. Wisconsin also has a Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) that manages the state’s student financial aid system, including grant, scholarship, and loan programs, as well as tuition reciprocity agreements with other states.
