Rep. Katrina Shankland, (D-Stevens Point), and Sen. Dave Hansen, (D-Green Bay), introduced a series of bills that affect the UW System. The bills were formally introduced in the Senate and have been assigned as follows:

• SB-355  UW Blue Ribbon Commission: This bill creates a Blue Ribbon Commission in the University of Wisconsin System. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
• SB-356  UW Funding: This bill provides additional funding to the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.

• SB-357  UW Tuition Freezes: This bill requires that all future tuition freezes for the University of Wisconsin System are funded. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
• SB-359  UW Student Grants: This bill funds Wisconsin grants for University of Wisconsin System students and technical college students and makes an appropriation. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
• SB-360  Tuition Remission: This bill remits UW undergraduate student teachers’ academic fees for the semester they are student teaching. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
• SB-358 Tech College Aid: This bill is included as part of the package but does not affect the UW System. It provides additional funding  funding for the technical college system. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.

The 13th annual Education Next survey of public opinion, administered in May 2019, highlights how provocative ideas regarding education are resonating with the American public.

Most Americans agree a college degree is important in helping a young person succeed in the world. According to the Pew Research Center, most college graduates themselves say their degree helped them grow and develop the skills they needed for the workplace. There are clear and growing economic advantages for college graduates versus those without a degree. Even so, there is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction among the public about the role colleges play in society, whether they cite the cost of tuition or the perception that faculty bring political views to the classroom. Kim Parker from Pew Research Centers shares some interesting polling of American’s differing views regarding Higher Education. See the full story here.

Rep. Dave Murphy, (R-Greenville), the chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, and Sen. André Jacque, (R-De Pere), introduced a series of bills that affect the UW System.  The bills were formally introduced in the Assembly and have been assigned as follows:

• AB-369 UW Tuition: This bill creates a cohort tuition model and limits future tuition increases to CPI for each incoming class.
• AB-373 UW Fees: This bill limits the use of seg fees and imposes restrictions on seg fees for athletics and capital building projects, while giving students responsibility for the disposition of all segregated fees (allocable and non-allocable)
• AB-372 UW-System Reporting: This bill streamlines or eliminates several reports we are required to submit to the state, and it allows graduate health science classes to start before September 1^st.
• AB- 371 Course Numbering: This bill creates a universal course numbering system between UW System and WTCS, and it eliminates the statutory distinction between UW System and WTCS.
• AB-370 UW Debt Guarantees: This bill makes several changes to the governance of affiliated organizations, limits the authority of the Board of Regents to delegate powers, and fixes the statutes related to guaranties of public debt.

A public hearing was held on Tuesday, August 13 on Administrative Code Scope Statement for Chapter UWS 17, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Ch. UWS 17, Wis. Admin. Code). UW System seeks to modify Ch. UWS 17, Wis. Admin. Code to address student discipline related to violent or other disorderly misconduct that materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others, when a formal investigation and disciplinary hearing is required, and mandatory sanctions for students found responsible for misconduct that materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others. All UW System institutions would be affected by the proposed rule revisions articulated in the related scope statement.

At the same time, Representatives Cody Horlacher, Robin Vos, and Dave Murphy along with Senator Chris Kapenga introduced LRB-3437/1: Free Expression within the University of Wisconsin System.  The bill puts the responsibility on the UW Board of Regents to discipline any actions inhibiting free speech by campus speakers, students and faculty. It also allows campus speakers, students and faculty to discuss anything protected by the first amendment. The Board of Regents currently has a policy in place addressing actions for those in violation of free speech rights.