Public access to UW job applicants would be reduced

Applicants for coaching jobs at the University of Wisconsin, and other positions, would no longer be subject to the open records law under a proposal approved by the Legislature’s budget-writing committee.

The changed added to the state budget Friday would limit the names of applicants that would have to be released publicly. The public would only have access to finalists “seriously considered for appointment” for the jobs of UW System president, vice presidents, chancellor and vice chancellors for each campus.

That would mean the public would no longer be able to see who has applied for jobs like football or basketball coach.

In December, after Gary Andersen left as football coach, The Associated Press used the open records law to report that 46 people applied to succeed him.