Leaders on the board that oversees the Universities of Wisconsin say that the fired president of the system was slow to address pressing issues like artificial intelligence and feared upsetting policymakers, faculty and staff.

Fired Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman tells The Associated Press in his first interview since the ouster that he was “blindsided” by the move but has no hard feelings and is unlikely to sue.

Officials at the Universities of Wisconsin have fired the system’s president after he refused their offer to quietly resign and said they never gave a clear reason why he should.

The president of the multicampus Universities of Wisconsin has said in letters obtained by The Associated Press that he has been told to resign or he will be fired.

Universities of Wisconsin regents have narrowly rejected a deal with Republicans that would have given employees a pay raise and paid for construction of a new engineering building in exchange for reductions in staff positions focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Universities of Wisconsin and Assembly Republican Speaker Robin Vos have reached a sweeping deal that would freeze hiring for diversity positions across the system in exchange for lawmakers approving employee pay raises and funding for a new engineering building at the flagship campus.