Category: State news

Call it budget envy, but the president of Madison Area Technical College wants a deal similar to UW-Madison?s treatment in the state budget ? more autonomy. Bettsey Barhorst said Monday that MATC needs more freedom from the state in order to run more cheaply and efficiently, especially in the face of a proposed 30 percent cut in state aid and a proposed freeze in property tax increases. Barhorst said state rules for building, program approvals and personnel certification mean piles of paperwork, a lengthy process and added expense for the college.

Gov. Scott Walker?s proposal to split the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the rest of the UW System is a bad idea, and lawmakers should reject it.

It is frustrating, though perhaps understandable, that the terribly important discussion of the future of the UW System, especially the UW Madison, has gotten caught up in politics. There are those who are opposing Chancellor Biddy Martin?s New Badger Partnership for no other reason than Governor Walker supports it. That?s goofy.

Members of the Legislature?s budget-writing committee have signaled they?re approaching information overload when it comes to the proposed separation of the UW-Madison from the rest of the UW System. Is there a way, key lawmakers have asked, to construct a phased plan for giving the university more freedom to run its own affairs?

Some suggest that the New Badger Partnership will limit access to an education for students because tuition will not be affordable. We refute this.We want more people to know that they can afford to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The New Badger Partnership is going to make UW-Madison more affordable, not less accessible. [A letter to the editor by UW-Madison officials Joanne Berg, Adele Brumfield and Susan Fischer, see fifth letter].

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin delivered a forceful defense of her plan to give the Madison campus more autonomy Wednesday.

Although some members of the state Legislature believe a University of Wisconsin-Madison split from the UW System is unlikely, it doesnt mean some type of university reform wont occur.

After two Republican state representatives voiced opposition to the New Badger Partnership, State Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, also spoke out against the UW System split Thursday, saying it was not fit for the current budget.

It?s really that simple, legislators. Give UW-Madison the autonomy it desires or give us $25 million. The third option is to turn UW-Madison into the Midwest?s pre-eminent safety school. It?s obvious to us that last option is one to avoid. Trust us, we get a pretty good education here?at least, for now.

I predict in 40 years, the differences between what society will want from UW-Madison and want from the other UW System schools will be even more stark than it is today. Already, the crushing debt burden and limited opportunities afterward are leading many to ask, ?Is college worth it?? Each campus may adapt to answer that in a different manner, and Madison?s path forward will likely be unique among the System schools. I believe a board with the expertise and time to focus on UW-Madison is crucial for our continued success, and if the best way to achieve that is a standalone board, then so be it. I hope the Legislature comes to that conclusion, too. [A column by Erik Paulson, a disseratator in computer sciences]

In a Newsmakers interview at postcrescent.com Thursday, we talked with UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells about the plans and how they might affect not just Oshkosh but the whole system.

The Columbia County Board of Supervisors is holding off, at least for a month, on taking a stand on the proposal to split the governance of the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the rest of the University of Wisconsin System. The proposal is directly relevant to Columbia County, and other Wisconsin counties, because it could affect the future of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, which is governed by the same Board of Regents that oversees the rest of the system.

The proposal to create a new, independent authority to run UW Madison is getting a robust debate in the court of public opinion. Some students are now speaking up in support, faculty seem generally cautious, we know where the Regents and System administration stand, and politicians have their fingers to the wind – which is as good a reason as any to create the new authority.

The debate over Gov. Scott Walker?s proposal to spin off the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the UW System shifted again this week, with one legislator on Tuesday urging the heads of the Joint Finance Committee to drop the plan from the 2011-?13 biennial budget.

Critics of a plan to split the University of Wisconsin-Madison off from the rest of the UW System believe they are gaining traction as lawmakers express their doubts, but UW-Madison?s chancellor says she remains confident.

“There?s a lot of support out there. It?s not as visible as the opposition,” said UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin.

State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, proposed an alternative to the New Badger Partnership Tuesday that would delay any decisions from being made until after the biennial budget passed.

The proposal to split UW-Madison from the rest of the University of Wisconsin System should be taken out of the budget and the state Legislature should instead work on a separate bill to give all UW System campuses flexibility, said Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater. Nass, chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities committee, wrote to the co-chairs of the state Legislature?s budget committee Tuesday with a “path to resolving the current controversy over the New Badger Partnership (UW-Madison split from the UW System).” Nass is opposed to the split. He suggests that his committee — and the state Senate?s higher education committee — work on developing a comprehensive bill to give statutory flexibility to all the UW System campuses, with a goal of having the new bill take effect by July 1, 2012.

Lawmakers expressed doubt this week that Gov. Scott Walker?s budget proposal to split UW-Madison from the University of Wisconsin System has the support to move forward. “I think its highly unlikely that the Legislature at this time is ready to grant that authority,” said Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, co-chair of the state Legislature?s powerful budget committee. The governor?s proposal would make UW-Madison into a public authority – separate from the UW System – with its own 21-member board of trustees and more autonomy on issues such as tuition, money management, purchasing and building.

WHITEWATER ? Jeff and Denise Ehren aren?t clear on the exact definition of middle class, but they?re pretty sure their place in it is shaky. They both work full time at UW-Whitewater ? he?s a custodian, she helps run the sports and recreation center ? but those jobs together grossed just under $50,000 last year, they said. They?ve got a mortgage, student loans, credit card debt and a list of side gigs, from bartending to secretarial work.

“I certainly don?t feel middle class,” said Denise Ehren, 34. “Sometimes I think we should just call ourselves poor and be done with it.”

A lead member of the state?s powerful Joint Finance Committee said Sunday he thought the governor?s plan to allow the University of Wisconsin to spin off from other state schools is a complicated issue that may require more than one budget cycle to decide.

State universities have struggled through the financial crisis, forcing many to confront the question of what it means to be a state university.

A top Republican legislator says his colleagues probably won?t split UW-Madison from the rest of the university system.

WAUSAU (WAOW)–UW-Marathon County hosted a listening session Monday to discuss proposed state budget cuts and a break-off of UW-Madison.

Leaders of the University of Wisconsin System discussed two proposals to give universities more flexibility to cope with expected budget cuts during a forum Monday at UW Marathon County.

A lead member of the state?s powerful Joint Finance Committee said Sunday he thought the governor?s plan to allow the University of Wisconsin to spin off from other state schools is a complicated issue that may require more than one budget cycle to decide.