UW System Clipsheet

"Regents to address pay plan, academic programs," Badger Herald, Dec. 4.

During its final meetings of the year today and Friday, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is scheduled to weigh several important decisions regarding UW campuses, including several key proposals at UW-Madison. Up for approval at the meeting is the 2009-11 pay plan for UW’s academic staff and faculty. UW System President Kevin Reilly has recommended a 2.5 percent salary increase for each of the next two years, a dramatic shift from the regent’s earlier endorsement of a percent increase twice that amount...

"Voice of the students," Badger Herald, Dec. 4.

Professors hear excuses for why students missed class every day, from sudden illness to oversleeping to needing to appear for jury duty. But few can say they were working on a university-friendly budget proposal to send to the governor or deciding their chancellor’s salary. “I had one professor that told me it’s definitely one of the best excuses he had heard in a long time for missing class,” said University of Wisconsin graduate student Colleene Thomas. Thomas and Kevin Opgenorth, who attends UW-Platteville, serve as the two student representatives on the UW System Board of Regents...

"Higher education report card," WLUK, Dec. 3.

...The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education just came out with their report card for the states, and when it comes to affordability, Wisconsin gets a failing grade..."What's happened here in the last 10 years or so is tuition has gone up significantly while the financial aid has not kept pace," said (UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard) Wells...At least locally in the short term UW-Oshkosh is doing something about it...

Watch: http://www.fox11onlin...rd_200812031817_rev1

"UW-River Falls announces plans to cut costs," River Falls Journal, Dec. 2.

Officials from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls announced Monday several steps that will be taken to reduce costs at the university. The move comes following an announcement in November that the state was facing a $5.4 billion budget shortfall in the coming 2009-11 biennial budget...

"UW system reacts to budget belt-tightening," Superior Telegram, Dec. 4.

As students prepare for final exams at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, faculty and staff will prepare for a test of its own — maintaining the state university’s commitment to education as Wisconsin faces a $5.4 billion budget shortfall. Chancellor Julius Erlenbach scheduled a campus-wide summit to discuss the state’s budget Dec. 10. The goal of the summit is to figure out how the university can continue to put education first while responding to state belt-tightening...

"Chancellor's Roundtable focuses on budget issues," Spectator, Dec. 4.

Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich tackled student issues, including funding impacts of the Wisconsin budget challenges, and UW-Eau Claire efforts to increase equity, diversity and inclusiveness at the Chancellor's Roundtable Monday night in the Presidents Room of Davies Center. Levin-Stankevich said the university has been assuming there will be a cut in funding during this fiscal year and is planning accordingly...

"Students pass green referendum," Spectator, Dec. 4.

(UW-Eau Claire) Students approved a referendum last month that sought to increase student fees by $10 per semester to fund a university green initiatives account...

"Diversity plan sees scrutiny," Badger Herald, Dec. 3.

With 2008 coming to a close, University of Wisconsin officials are evaluating the successes and failures of the 10-year diversity initiative, Plan 2008. Vice Provost of Diversity and Climate Damon Williams said though the plan’s implementation fell short of its original goals, it has made a significant impact on the diversity of students and culture on campus...

"UW-Stout students engineer a machine that turns manure into bio fuel," WEAU, Dec. 3.

It seems more farmers are turning to machines that turn their waste into bio fuel. And a group of UW-Stout engineering students are working on their own methane digester model that they hope will one day be used at their school every day...

"Student Council votes unanimously for installation of new constitution," Daily Cardinal, Dec. 4.

The Associated Students of Madison voted in favor of a new constitution Wednesday night. The constitution will be voted upon by the student body in February pending second approval by Student Council...

"Higher education in Wisconsin fails in affordability, report says," Daily Cardinal, Dec. 3.

Forty-nine of the nation’s states, including Wisconsin, are failing in higher education affordability, according to a national higher education report card. UW System officials say increased investment in financial aid could alleviate the problem...

"Report: Wisconsin higher-ed system suffers in affordability, minority graduation rates," Wisconsin Public Radio, Dec. 3.

College graduation rates for blacks in Wisconsin are roughly half that of whites. A national report from the Center of Public Policy and Higher Education says if all racial groups had the same education and earnings, personal income in Wisconsin would be $4-billion higher than it is now...

"New Google office has strong ties to the UW," WKOW 27, Dec. 3.

You can find Madison Wisconsin on Google.com, and now you can find Google in Madison. The internet search engine leader officially opened their new office at 301 Blount Street in downtown. At the open house, Governor Jim Doyle called Google a perfect fit for Madison. "It's very obvious why Google moved into this office. It's because of it's proximity to the University of Wisconsin. It demonstrates how important the university is to the long term economic health of this state," Doyle says...

"Google officially opens office in downtown Madison," Associated Press, Dec. 4.

Internet giant Google has opened an office in Madison...(Gov.) Doyle says the state must continue to attract companies like Google to provide good jobs for its educated work force - particularly in tough economic times...

"Women abroad and men at home," Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 4.

...In recent years, as study abroad has ballooned across the nation, fueled by growth in short-term programs and increasing diversity in participating students’ majors and destinations, a 2-to-1 female-to-male ratio has stayed remarkably stagnant...

"Battling for Buffalo," Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 4.

...Simpson, president of the State University of New York’s Buffalo campus, says the state’s $2 billion budget shortfall presents an opportunity. With a renewed sense of urgency, Simpson is pressing lawmakers to enact a series of reforms that would challenge longstanding traditions in New York. Simpson’s recommendations include allowing Buffalo, and perhaps a few other significant research campuses in the 64-campus system, to raise its tuition at a higher rate than the rest of the four-year SUNY campuses...

"What universities can do to graduate more minority Ph.D.'s," Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec. 4.

Universities have long rued the stark disparity between minority students' share of the population and their share of Ph.D.'s, especially in engineering and the sciences...If universities want to diversify their doctoral programs, the scholars said, they should improve the academic climate for all of their students, not just for minorities... (paid subscription required)