On Thursday, October 17, the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities held a public hearing on AB 452-the University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project and making an appropriation. Staff from UW-Madison, as well as Regent Torrey Tiedeman, that manage and participate in the UW MIA RIP program testified at the hearing. The Assembly bill is scheduled for an executive session on October 23^rd, and the Senate companion bill is scheduled for a public hearing on October 22^nd.

The State Building Commission met on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, to consider and approve the following projects for the UW System:

• UW-Eau Claire – Governor’s Hall Addition and Renovation – Authority to Construct – $19,307,000 PRSB
• UW-Madison – Camp Randall Stadium and Fieldhouse Renovation – Authority to Construct and Waiver of Statute to allow for Design/Build alternative delivery $77,646,000 ($68,046,000 PRSB, $6,600,000 PR-Cash and $3M Gifts)
• UW-Madison – Land Acquisition – $610,000 PR-Cash
• UW-Parkside – We Energies Photovoltaic Array – Authority to construct on university land
• UW-Whitewater – Utility Improvements – Authority to Construct – $6,937,000 ($3,954,000 GFSB and $2,983,000 PRSB)
• UW-Milwaukee – Mitchell Hall Active Learning Classroom – $650,000 GFSB
• UW-Platteville – Science Building Instructional Space Renovations – $1,510,000 GFSB
• UW-Green Bay – Enviro Sciences MEP Infrastructure Renovations – $2,528,000 GFSB
• UW-Whitewater – Multi-Building Elevator Renovations – $2,008,000 ($1,405,600 GFSB and $602,400 PRSB)
• UW-Oshkosh – Halsey Science Center Steam/Condensate Replacement – $880,600 ($449,100 GFSB and $431,500 PR-Cash)
• UW-Stout – Heating Plant Fuel Reliability Upgrade Increase – $969,000 PR-Cash
• UW-Superior – Campus Fiber Optic Backbone Replacement – $967,000 ($647,900 GFSB and $319,100 PRSB)

Dave Erdman, Director of Capital Finance at the Department of Administration, informed the Commission that he anticipates scheduling a bond sale in December.  The Commission approved the issue of new bonds as well as refinancing bonds should interest rates be favorable.

On Wednesday, October 16, Governor Tony Evers signed SB 266-Health insurance for surviving families of officers killed in the line of duty into law. The bill ensures that the surviving immediate family of fallen state and local law enforcement officers, including firefighters, EMS first responders, and UW-System campus police officers continue to receive healthcare insurance coverage after the loss of a loved one in the line of duty. See the news release for more information.

The Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families held an executive session on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 to vote by paper ballot on the following items that relate to UW System:

• SB-165 College Course Transfer: transferability of courses between the University of Wisconsin System, technical college system, and tribally controlled and private colleges. Substitute 2 was adopted in a 7-0 vote.  Passage as amended was recommended in a 6-1 vote.  
• SB-205 Military Credit Transfer: transferring academic credits from military transcripts to University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Passage was recommended in a 7-0 vote.  
• SB-334 Active Duty Service: requirements for colleges when service member students are called into active duty. Passage was recommended in a 7-0 vote.  

The Board of Regents met last week at UW-Superior. The Regents approved a report on the 2018-19 year-end program revenue balances. While total PR balances increased slightly by $11.1 million in FY19, attributable to large increases in restricted gift funds and other restricted funds, the tuition program revenue balance decreased by $55.9 million, a reduction of 56% since FY13. The Regents also heard the first report on the FY 2017-18 cost-benefit analysis summaries of foundations and other affiliated organizations. In 2017-18, UW institutions received $203.1 million from their primary foundations, while providing $9.1 million in administrative support. The Regents also approved eight requests from the Capital Planning and Budget Committee, and heard from UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls leaders on the impact the Dairy Innovation Hub will have on the state and next steps for launching Hub activities. President Cross, Board of Regents, and other UW leaders met in Grantsburg on Wednesday, October 9 to tour Four Cubs Farm, a 1,000-cow, robotic dairy operation owned by UW Board of Regent member Cris Peterson. The event was aimed at promoting the three campuses’ plans on spending the Dairy Innovation Hub funding allocated in the 2019-2021 state biennial budget.

A full summary of the October 10, 2019 meeting can be found here.

A full summary of the October 11, 2019 meeting can be found here.