MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The University of Wisconsin System regents are set to approve a plan to merge the system's two-year schools with its four-year campuses.
The regents are scheduled to vote on the proposal at UW-Madison Thursday afternoon.
The plan calls for transforming the system's 13 two-year schools into regional branches of seven of the 13 four-year schools. Students could still earn associate degrees but they would bear the name of the four-year school. Students also would get a wider range of courses to choose from and be able to take third- and fourth-year courses at the branch campuses.
System President Ray Cross proposed the plan as a means of bolstering declining enrollment at the two-year schools and keep them open.
Cross' plan also calls for UW-Madison to take over UW Extension programs.