A survey revealed recently that Wisconsinites hold their state university system in exceedingly low regard. Large majorities said University of Wisconsin campuses are top heavy, are spending public money the way Congress does and are too pricey for ordinary folks to send their kids to.
It’s clear that UW schools and the UW System have a serious image problem that must be dealt with aggressively. UW should do this not for touchy-feely PR benefit but because erosion of public trust will certainly result in further erosion of state legislative and public support. And this would function much like self-fulfilling prophecy, making the schools and system – beyond perception – truly inadequate for the public’s needs.
The best thing the university can do here is to provide the context missing from such surveys. And the key element missing from these perceptions is the reality that, though any institution can get more efficient, a top-rate university system and good K-12 schools are still the state’s best bets for bolstering its economy.