Strachota says Wisconsin and South Dakota are the only states that do not offer university staff the option of a personal account.

"Every other Big Ten university, including the University of Nebraska, offers access to such a plan," she says.

The proposal — which has not yet been formally introduced in the Legislature — would not mandate creation of such a plan but would give authority to the Board of Regents to do so.

Asked about the proposal, UW System spokesman David Giroux told me that "the issue of portability is a good one" especially for those who may want to work in Wisconsin but not spend their whole career here.

But Giroux said a key question is what impact the bill might have on the broader retirement system, which enjoys widespread support among most UW employees.

"It's something we'll need to take a look at," says Giroux.

Strachota's proposal echoes part of Gov. Scott Walker's 2011-2012 budget, in which he directed the state Department of Adminstration and other agencies to study alternatives to the Wisconsin Retirement System for public employees, including switching to personal accounts. A report is due back on June 30 this year.