Editing University of Wisconsin System (section)

=== 2018 restructuring ===
In October 2017, University of Wisconsin System president Ray Cross publicly proposed restructuring the University of Wisconsin System to bring the UW Colleges under the control of their nearest comprehensive university, creating regional two-year campuses within the system.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Wisconsin merger plan stokes controversy, but some see upside |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/10/13/wisconsin-merger-plan-stokes-controversy-some-see-upside |access-date=2017-10-21 |website=Inside Higher Ed}}</ref> The proposal also included splitting UW–Extension between University of Wisconsin–Madison and University of Wisconsin System administration. [[University of Wisconsin Colleges Online]], which was operating as an additional campus of University of Wisconsin Colleges, would be relocated under University of Wisconsin System administration. Cross announced this proposal without consulting shared governance groups or administrators. System administration argued that the merger would save money.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url= http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2017/10/10/uw-system-propose-merging-two-and-four-year-campuses-cut-costs-raise-graduation-numbers/751622001/|title=UW System will propose merging two- and four-year campuses to cut costs, raise graduation numbers|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=2017-10-21|language=en}}</ref> Critics said the merger was being rushed without input from the campuses and that the system was buckling to political pressure from the state.<ref name=":1" /> The proposal was approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents in their November 2017 meeting, and implementation began July 1, 2018.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpr.org/uw-regents-approve-merging-system-campuses|title=UW Regents Approve Merging System Campuses|website=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]|date=9 November 2017|language=en|access-date=2017-11-19}}</ref>