MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Chancellor Bernie Patterson announced Monday that he’ll retire at the end of the year.
Patterson has served as chancellor at the central Wisconsin institution since July 2010.
He drew intense criticism from faculty and students in 2019 after his administration proposed eliminating 13 programs to help cope with a $4.5 million deficit. Opponents complained Patterson’s staff expanded enrollment and over-hired instead of planning for a leaner future.
Patterson said at the time that his administration was leading the school through “necessary changes.” Still, his administration scaled the plan back to eliminating six majors in French, German, history, geography, geoscience and two art concentrations. The administration ultimately scrapped the proposal completely in April 2019, explaning that officials had reduced the university’s workforce by about 44 positions, generating $3.5 million in savings.
