A Growth Agenda for Wisconsin
Growth Agenda in the News
"Wisconsin
Higher Education Business Roundtable urges Legislature to support vision
for a world-class university system: Troubled
economic times make UW System management flexibility imperative,"
Wisconsin Higher Education Business Roundtable, May 28.
The Wisconsin Higher Education Business Roundtable, a coalition
of business leaders committed to education and economic development, called on
Gov. Jim Doyle and members of the Wisconsin Legislature to support UW System
management and budget initiatives that would protect the university’s core
mission and increase its operating flexibility during difficult economic times...
"Dave
Zweifel's Plain Talk: It shouldn't be prisons vs. university," Column,
Capital Times, May 13.
Two unrelated news stories in recent weeks spoke volumes
about the direction in which Wisconsin has been heading... If the budget is
to be balanced, as it must be by law, huge sacrifices and painful cuts will
have to made. The university will undoubtedly be required to contribute its
fair share, if not more...Economic experts maintain that the Madison campus
alone has a $5 billion impact on the state's economy, not only from the higher
salaries (and hence more taxes) that graduates make, but from the new companies
that its research laboratories generate and the number of high-paid jobs they
produce. Continually chipping away at what is perhaps the state's biggest economic
engine just doesn't make sense...
"Commentary:
Public universities have vital role in Wisconsin's economic recovery," Column,
Oshkosh Northwestern, April 26.
Many people understand and value major research universities
such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Milwaukee and their impact
on economic growth and recovery. However, the "Greater Wisconsin" public
universities and colleges that serve more than 100,000 students and 60 percent
of the state's residents are regional educational, research, cultural, and
economic bedrocks. These institutions greatly impact the long-term regional
economic development strategies for Wisconsin through workforce development,
business enterprise services and regional community enhancement...(Author:
UW-Oshkosh chancellor Richard Wells)...
"Keep UW engineer expansion in budget," Column, as published in the Post-Crescent, April 17, 2009.
Mark Guard could have been one of many jobless workers included in Green Bay's 11.9 percent unemployment rate. Thanks in part to a pioneering collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley and UW-Platteville, Guard is a well-paid engineer at Schneider National...The ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering program offered by UW-Platteville entirely on the two-year UW-Fox Valley campus in Menasha allowed Guard to earn his degree without leaving his home or moving his family...I recently provided testimony to the state Legislature's Joint Finance Committee about the importance of preparing our state for a brighter economic future by increasing the number of engineers throughout Wisconsin...(Author: Brad Hansen, president and COO of Heartland Business Systems and Avastone Technologies in Little Chute, WI, and vice president of the UW Colleges and UW-Extension Board of Visitors)...
"UW-P's footprint: The tri-state region's only regent institution boasts a $120 million impact -- and it's growing," Telegraph-Herald, March 8.
...Easily seen throughout the tri-state area, the "M" is a physical reminder of the university's footprint in the Midwest. Its overall impact is immeasurable, and the university keeps growing and growing. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville pumps an estimated $120 million annually into the tri-state economy, according to Robert Cramer, UW-P assistant chancellor of administrative services. It is Grant County's largest employer. "UW-P has been the largest economic engine in southwest Wisconsin for many years," said David Fritz, TRICOR Insurance and Financial Services president who graduated from the university in 1981."Even in these tough economic times, UW-P continues to grow and has provided some stability to the tri-state area"...
"We must fund future via plans of UWM," Column, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 28.
Amid all the bad news about the economy and disturbing health disparities in Milwaukee, the promise of a far more robust research-based economy is on the horizon. An economy stemming from and centered on growing the research capacity at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stands out not only as a glimmer of hope but as something within our reach...(Author: Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee), who represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes UWM)...
"Guest view: We must invest in education," Column, Coulee News, Feb. 19.
One hundred educators, policy makers, and business people provided valuable insights on the importance of investing in Wisconsin citizens during the Making Opportunity Affordable strategic planning event in late January. They share an urgency to make education at all levels more productive and to ensure that our educational policies and practices help students progress from high school to postsecondary education...(Author: Elizabeth Burmaster, state superintendent of public education and UW System Regent)...
"Research needs development, "Column, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 14.
University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly observed recently that the 38,000 research-and-development jobs in the state now outnumber the paper industry's total. The observation has great import for a state trying to figure its way out of a deep recession and a heavy dependence on its historic manufacturing sector. The innovation economy is upon us, and Wisconsin, with its world-class educational infrastructure, is well positioned to take advantage of its brain power. Yet it is one thing to have a strong base in a pivotal part of the economy and another to capitalize on it. The R&D has to be turned into patents, licenses and start-up companies...
"Legislators should draw line between higher education-prosperous economy," Column, WisPolitics, Dec. 26, 2008.
One of the major efforts for those of us who work in higher education in early 2009 will be to ensure that legislators and the public draw the connection between an adequately funded University of Wisconsin System and the health of our state’s economy. Speaking for UW-Stout, our unique mission within the UW System includes a specific charge to offer a distinctive array of programs “leading to professional careers focused on the needs of society”...But we cannot proceed with the planning and implementation of these new majors, or work on increasing the enrollment in the programs we now offer, unless the state of Wisconsin provides us with adequate resources--either through tax dollars or tuition...(Column author: Julie Furst-Bowe, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, UW-Stout)...
"Measuring Up underscores importance of Growth Agenda for Wisconsin," UW System news release, Dec. 3, 2008.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education today released its bi-annual report, Measuring Up 2008: The National Report Card on Higher Education. University of Wisconsin System President Kevin P. Reilly praised the report for underscoring the need to support higher education in Wisconsin...
"Chancellor Telfer inaugurated, addresses future of campus," Royal Purple, Nov. 17, 2008.
Chancellor Richard Telfer used his inaugural address Friday to challenge students and the university to be on the move in a new era involving a challenging fiscal environment...
"Guest column: Crossroads: It's time to invest in state's future," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 2, 2008.
The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, a highly respected independent research organization, recently made public a report that should alarm everyone who is interested in Wisconsin's economic future. The Alliance reported that Wisconsin trails every state in the country but one in levels of funding increases for higher education — universities, technical colleges and community colleges — over the past five years...No matter which portion of this credible report you choose to focus on, the message is clear: Higher education has not been a funding priority for the state of Wisconsin. This must change for Wisconsin to compete in the highly competitive global economy — an economy that is based more and more on knowledge...
"UWO unveils campaign effort," Oshkosh Northwestern, Sept. 18, 2008.
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is half way to its goal of raising $8.6 million in private donations to help fund its first new academic building in decades. Riding momentum of 18 months of quiet campaigning, UWO unveiled its "pride. purpose. promise" campaign to business and community members during the third annual Foundation Report to the Community Breakfast.
"UW bashing coming home to roost," Column, Capital Times, Aug. 15, 2008.
Do you suppose that Rep. Steve Nass and the other university bashers in the Legislature were paying attention a few days ago when Jon Foley, one of the stars on the UW-Madison campus, announced he is leaving for Minnesota?...
"UW System President presents 'Growth Agenda Action Steps' to Regents: Strategic planning process produces broad framework and specific actions," UW System news release, Feb. 7, 2008.
University of Wisconsin System Kevin P. Reilly today presented ten proposed initiatives that will support the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin – the university’s effort to produce more college graduates, stimulate job creation and strengthen Wisconsin communities. The ideas grow out of an ongoing strategic planning process that gathered input through seven “Think Tank” work groups, statewide listening sessions, business surveys and other methods...