University of Wisconsin System leaders will have to get permission from a Republican-controlled legislative committee for any COVID-related regulations at its schools.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted 6-4 along party lines today (Tuesday) to require the U-W System to issue an emergency order within 30 days to enact pandemic protocols, including mandatory testing and masks on campus.
UW System spokesman Mark Pitsch said in a statement, “today’s action feels like a political statement; our focus is to ensure we are doing what needs to be done now to safely open for in-person teaching this fall.”
Committee co-chair, Senator Steve Nass of Whitewater said, “today, the legislature through JCRAR has told the UW System they can no longer ignore state law with regards to Covid-19 mandates impacting students and campus visitors.”
UW-Madison is planning to require weekly testing of unvaccinated students on campus this fall.
