Coming Out Well
Campuses to benefit from new state budget
By Erik Christianson

Every UW System institution will benefit in some way from the recently passed 2001-03 state budget.

The two-year spending plan increases state taxpayer support for the UW System by $77.5 million, an ongoing 5 percent increase. State support is matched in this budget by $46.1 million in tuition revenue. Gov. Scott McCallum signed the budget into law Aug. 30.

"From our perspective, the budget has come out well," says UW System President Katharine Lyall. "It provides more than $30 million in new funding for the Economic Stimulus Package proposed earlier this year by the Board of Regents. This will enable us to serve the whole state by increasing enrollment in programs that lead to high-paying, high demand positions in Wisconsin."

"I know that the Governor had difficult choices to make," adds Regent President Jay L. Smith. "In supporting the UW System as strongly as he has, he has challenged all of us to make an even greater contribution to the economic development of Wisconsin. We intend to do just that."

The budget specifically provides $39.2 million for the Regents' Economic Stimulus Package, including the first phase of the Milwaukee Idea, the second phase of the Madison Initiative, and business and workforce development programs at nearly every campus.

The Board of Regents on Sept. 7 passed a resolution thanking the Wisconsin Legislature and Gov. Scott McCallum for their assistance with the university budget. State Sen. Chuck Chvala, D-Madison, (middle right) receives a copy of the resolution from Regent President Jay Smith (middle left), UW System President Lyall and Regent Fred Mohs.

These programs include the Chippewa Valley Initiative at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout, initiatives to boost high-tech enrollments at UW-La Crosse and UW-River Falls, information systems programs at UW-Oshkosh and UW-Parkside, a joint engineering program between UW-Platteville and UW-Fox Valley, the Central Wisconsin Idea at UW-Stevens Point, and other business and workforce development ventures at UW-Whitewater.

Other UW System programs in the budget include initiatives to extend service to Wisconsin's adult population, especially at the UW Colleges, and support for business development through the UW-Extension's Small Business Development Center. The UW-Green Bay Learning Experience also receives start-up funding in this budget.

Due to the tightening economy and a structural deficit in the budget, McCallum mandated cuts for every state agency, including $15.9 million in state support from the UW System's base budget. This cut is offset by $8 million generated from an additional increase in non-resident tuition.

The UW System proposed non-resident tuition increases of 9 percent at the comprehensive campuses and UW Colleges and 10.4 percent at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. The Legislature added a 2.5 percent increase to non-resident tuition in its version of the budget, and McCallum then tacked on another 2.5 percent increase through his veto authority.

In addition to the state's operating budget, the UW System benefits from the new capital budget. The building program provides $235 million over the next two years - matched by gifts and other sources - for several high-priority construction and maintenance projects in the UW System, including UW-Superior's Gates Physical Education Building.

The state building program also provides continued funding for UW-Madison's BioStar Initiative. A 10-year, $317 million plan that matches state dollars with private contributions, BioStar heavily invests in the future of the biological and life sciences, burgeoning areas of study and economic development for UW-Madison and Wisconsin.

Equally important to the UW System in the budget are several gubernatorial vetoes. These include the elimination of a requirement that the UW System accept all general education credits transferred from Wisconsin Technical College System institutions. The Board of Regents and the WTCS board believe these decisions are best made through academic channels and are committed to improving articulation between the two systems of higher education.

Lyall also praises the veto of a Department of Administration feasibility study to examine creating a "Postsecondary Education Commission" in Wisconsin. Lyall says the voluntary PK-16 Council is the better and far less costly vehicle for achieving a more seamless state education system.

"The Governor clearly made education a priority in shaping this budget, and we appreciate that emphasis," concludes Lyall.