Ray Taffora, general counsel for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said he doesn’t believe the law currently allows for a deliberative process exemption, but said it’s important to preserve a “fairly nimble, flexible” exclusion for drafts and notes under the law.
Category: State news
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire responds to massive cuts in state support
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is not a particularly wealthy school.
GOP lawmakers make move to ban sale of fetal body parts
Quoted: Tim Kamp, a medical doctor and researcher and co-director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, said the proposal could affect research on the campus and in private biotechnology companies.
Report finds 46% of area roads in poor condition
Noted: But Eric Sundquist, managing director of the State Smart Transportation Initiative, warned against thinking “the only solution is turning on the spigot for more, more, more.” The group is housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and advises states on sustainable transportation policy.
Your Right to Know: UW shouldn’t hide finalist names
Column from Bill Leuders distributed by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit group dedicated to open government. Bill Lueders, associate editor of The Progressive magazine, is the group’s president.
Wisconsin’s first enologist to spice up the state’s wine, cider industries
Wisconsin’s “cheeseheads” might someday have a wealth of local options to pair with the state’s most popular food. And they may have Nick Smith to thank for it.
Changes in shared governance worry UW-L faculty
Leaders at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse are concerned about the effect changes in state law on shared governance and tenure will have on the campus.
State Debate: James Rowen calls out Boss Vos, others revisit high courts John Doe ruling
Noted: Writing for the Forbes opinion site, UW-Madison Economics Prof. Noah Williams insists that under Scott Walker Wisconsin has prospered and people need to keep that in mind in 2016. Williams, who is an adviser to Walkers presidential campaign, claims that those who say Wisconsin is lagging the rest of the country are wrong and that the state is actually outperforming its neighbors.
Top DNR wildlife biologist leaves for new job
Noted: Walter was with the DNR from 2011 until this week. He has a master’s and doctorate degrees in wildlife ecology from the UW-Madison, and was a biology professor at the UW-Richland Center from 1999 to 2011.
New CWD report gives hunters food for thought
The 2002 discovery of chronic wasting disease in wild white-tailed deer near Mt. Horeb was a watershed event in Wisconsin wildlife history. Tom Heberlein, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, referred to it as “Fire in the Sistine Chapel.”
Sandeen: UW College Deans Will Not Lose Ties to Local Communities
UW Colleges Chancellor Cathy Sandeen says that two-year schools will keep their traditional close ties to local communities, despite the sweeping reorganization announced Tuesday.
UW Colleges to restructure, pare administration 30%
Nearly 30% of administrative positions will be cut on campuses as leadership and management of the state’s two-year public colleges are consolidated into regions over the next several months.
The pending layoffs — estimated at the equivalent of 83 full-time positions — are in response to state budget cuts and two more years of a tuition freeze handed down by state lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker, announced University of Wisconsin Colleges and UW Extension Chancellor Cathy Sandeen on Tuesday.
UW Colleges to cut 83 jobs, consolidate campus administration
The University of Wisconsin Colleges will lay off more than 80 employees in a cost-cutting move that will see the network of two-year schools consolidate administration of its 13 campuses into four regions of the state, officials announced Tuesday.The move is one result of a $5 million cut to the college system’s funding — its share of a $250 million reduction in support for the University of Wisconsin System in the state budget Gov. Scott Walker signed last week.
UW 2-Year Colleges To Cut 83 Positions, Consolidate
The University of Wisconsin is eliminating 83 administrative and staff positions at two-year college campuses across the state in a sweeping reorganization that was announced Tuesday.
Controversy over Sara Goldrick-Rab’s tweets continues, gains national attention
Professor Bill Tracy got right to the point when asked for his thoughts on a controversy that arose this week involving statements from University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Sara Goldrick-Rab on Twitter.
“It’s a mess,” said Tracy, a member of the steering committee for PROFS, an advocacy organization for UW-Madison professors.
Chris Rickert: Tenure comes with responsibility to rise above the din
UW-Madison professor Sara Goldrick-Rab’s tweets comparing Republican Gov. Scott Walker to Adolf Hitler and suggesting the governor and “many” state lawmakers are “fascists” are the kind of thing you’d expect to see in anonymous online comment sections and other gutters of the Internet.
So it’s a good thing her colleagues at the university are willing to stand up for a smarter, more civilized form of political discourse.
Uncertainty, concern over future of tenure draw national attention to UW System
The state budget signed by Gov. Scott Walker last week envisions broad changes to how the University of Wisconsin System is run, experts say, allowing for a more corporate management structure that empowers chancellors while professors with fewer protections take a back seat.
It’s a model that has incensed faculty, drawing national attention to the UW System as legislators stripped tenure from state law, weakened shared governance and expanded justifications for laying off professors.
John Doe ruling fuels call to punish prosecutors
Quoted: UW-Madison political science professor emeritus Donald Downs said no-knock searches are only allowed if surprise is needed, for example to protect officers or prevent destruction of evidence. He questioned whether searches, as described by conservative media, were “proportional to the type of crime and what they (authorities) knew about the type of people involved.”
Final state budget brings modest changes for Madison, Dane County
Noted: The county is most concerned about indirect impacts of a $250 million cut to UW-Madison and level K-12 funding, said Josh Wescott, chief of staff to county executive Joe Parisi. Over time, a lack of investment in education, job training and other areas creates “a risk to stunting the growth we’ve seen here locally,” he said.
UW-Milwaukee chancellor confident in future despite cuts
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone told faculty, staff and students at a campus forum Thursday that he remains bullish and confident about the future, though realities of the new state budget will make the next two years “immensely challenging.”
Officials: Deep state cut will hurt UW-extension
With the $5.2 million in cuts to the University of Wisconsin Extension, officials say there’s no doubt programming will be impacted at UW-Extension Rock County.
Walker vetoes sections of budget, reveals changes to shared governance
Gov. Scott Walker signed the biennial state budget in Waukesha July 12, revealing the exact effects it will have on the UW-Madison community.
State budget leaves future of tenure uncertain
UW System professors no longer have tenure defined by state statutes as a result of Gov. Scott Walker’s 2015-’17 budget, which has left some worrying that university faculty and researchers will leave to find more secure jobs elsewhere.
Potato field day in Hancock
It may not be as familiar of a sight as corn, or soybeans, but the potato season is underway in parts of the area. It’s also a big business in the state. Researchers and growers in Central Wisconsin are looking for an above average year. Quoted: Amanda Gevens, associate professor of plant pathology.
UW Extension to reduce staff amid $5.2M cut in state funding
The $5.2 million reduction is part of the state budget signed by Gov. Scott Walker. It represents an 8 percent cut in state funding for UW Extension, a university system whose mission includes educating communities that lack a four-year campus.
UW Student Leaders Applaud Walker Veto Of Shared Governance Changes
University of Wisconsin student leaders are relieved that Gov. Scott Walker has vetoed parts of a policy to scale back shared governance at state universities. They say things like shared governance and tenure aren’t safe in the hands of state lawmakers.
UW Extension dealing with state spending cuts
Vacant job openings will remain unfilled, and some staff cuts are coming, as the result of a reduction in state spending for the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Will other states follow Scott Walker’s lead on weakening teacher tenure?
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker – who announced a 2016 presidential bid Monday – faces intense criticism from higher education activists, after signing a $73 billion state budget that makes hefty cuts to the University of Wisconsin system and significantly reduces tenure protections for faculty.
Bats, cows and grapes all part of UW Ag Research Field Days
One of the prime examples of UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Idea, sharing knowledge in all parts of the state, will be on display starting this week, courtesy of the university’s Agricultural Research Station.
UW-Madison chancellor asks Scott Walker to veto tenure, shared governance changes
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank asked Gov. Scott Walker on Friday to veto provisions in the state budget that strip tenure protections from law and weaken shared governance principles.
Scott Walker signs state budget with 104 vetoes day before 2016 kickoff
As he prepared to kick off his presidential campaign, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed the state budget Sunday after using his veto powers to excise grants for conservation groups and a provision that would have given payday lenders new authority.
Wisconsin Gov. Walker signs state budget with changes
Among other provisions, the budget plan extends a freeze on in-state UW tuition for another two years, removes tenure protections for UW professors from state law and imposes no sales or income tax increases.
UW-Madison committed to keeping Energy Institute open amid budget cuts
The University of Wisconsin-Madison plans to come up with the millions of dollars needed to keep the Wisconsin Energy Institute — a hub for UW energy research — operating.
UWGB chancellor lays out $2.8 million state cuts
About 24 positions will be eliminated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, mostly in the areas of academic advising and support services, to address a nearly $3 million annual reduction in state funding.
UW-L sees largest increase in lean year; science building gets OK
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will see one of the largest budget increases of any University of Wisconsin System campus next year, up nearly $3.9 million.
UW Stevens Point impacted by budget vetoes
The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point will feel the impact of additional cuts made by Governor Scott Walker’s veto pen.
UWS Is Out Nearly $900,000 After Latest Budget Cut
After Governor Scott Walker proposed a $300 million cut to the UW System, the legislature reduced the proposed amount by $50 million.
Walker Signs State Budget Bill Ahead Of Expected Presidential Bid
Gov. Scott Walker signed the next two-year state budget on Sunday, just a day before he’s expected to announce his bid for the Republican nomination for president.
Stakes High, Scott Walker Signs Wisconsin Budget
Gov. Scott Walker signed Wisconsin’s budget on Sunday afternoon, more than a week after the new budget year began and only hours before he was to announce his presidential campaign.
University of Wisconsin Regents enact budget reflecting state cuts
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a $6 billion budget Thursday that incorporates millions of dollars in cuts from the Legislature. Before voting, the regents worried about the effects of deep cuts on the UW System.
“At what point do we say ‘ouch’?” Regent Jose F. Vasquez asked.
Lawmakers considering stricter penalties for public threats
Noted: So far this week, police in the Madison area have responded to three threats. On Saturday, a man claimed he was armed and inside a UW campus building. Wednesday, a bomb threat forced an evacuation at the Capitol, and later, a woman claimed she had a bomb at the Dutch Mill Park and Ride near Stoughton Road. All of the threats were determined to be unfounded.
Budget reminiscent of Hollywood code — Warren J. Gordon
Vintage movie fans enjoy stories about the bizarre screenplay changes during the late 1930s and early ’40s after Hollywood studios imposed the Motion Picture Production Code, in an effort to clean up their image and remove content some audiences would find objectionable.
It now seems our Republican legislators have adapted the same philosophy in crafting their state budget bill. In the past couple months we’ve seen them propose and then summarily discard language that would abolish the Legislative Audit Bureau, eliminate the Wisconsin Idea from the University of Wisconsin System’s mission statement, weaken the state’s pioneering open records law and politicize the board that oversees the nation’s best-run public pension system.
UW tenure task force to meet in August
A task force that will work to add tenure protections to University of Wisconsin System policy will meet for the first time later this summer after legislators voted to remove tenure from state law.
Regents pass budget to absorb $125M in state cuts
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Thursday approved a budget that will absorb the first of two years of deep cuts in state aid to higher education and reduce funding for UW-Madison by nearly $60 million.
Proposals To Weaken Faculty Protections, Shared Governance Stay In State Budget
A proposal to weaken faculty tenure protections in the University of Wisconsin System remains among the many controversial issues in the budget now headed to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk.
Budget Disproportionately Cuts Funding For UW-Milwaukee, Says Student President
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student president said his school is bearing too much of the UW-System’s $250 million budget cut, ultimately threatening the school’s core mission.
UW Regents Approve Budget That Absorbs $125M In Cuts
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a nearly $6.2 billion budget Thursday in a voice vote.
Regents Revisit Work Of Tenure Task Force
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents hasn’t forgotten about possible changes to tenure policy: At its meeting Thursday, regents checked in on the progress of a tenure task force created earlier this summer.
U-Rock, Whitewater plan for budget cuts
Cuts to the University of Wisconsin system as part of the proposed budget will mean layoffs and the reduction of positions through attrition at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
UWO “in a great place” for $7.4 million cut
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh faces a $7.4 million budget cut, but administrators have taken action to divvy up the cut over three years.
Wisconsin Assembly passes $73 billion budget, sends it to Walker for signature, vetoes
MADISON, Wisconsin — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly passed the state budget with only two votes to spare early Thursday morning, sending the $73 billion spending plan on to Gov. Scott Walker four days before he was to officially launch his presidential campaign.
After bomb threat and beer summit, Wisconsin Assembly passes budget
The $70 billion, two-year spending plan is now Gov. Scott Walker’s to modify with his powerful veto authority, and ultimately sign. No word has been given on when that might occur, but the governor plans to formally announce his candidacy for president on Monday.
With Senate Passage, $250M In UW Cuts Likely A Done Deal
The University of Wisconsin is poised to see its state funding get cut yet again after Republicans made no major changes to the UW budget that passed the Senate Tuesday.
UW-Parkside Cuts Budget By 23 Percent Section
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside will take a smaller hit in state funding cuts than initially expected, but enough to cause the university to cut its operating budget by more than 2 percent.
Aide says Governor’s office was involved in open records discussions
Noted: Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald called the measure a “broader issue” and said “other governmental entities have issues” with law as it is currently written, including the UW System.
“It came from a number of different sources,” Fitzgerald said. “Some of them were related to certainly the lawsuit that Sen. Erpenbach was involved in. There was some suggestion from UW System on open records request related to some of their research and some issues related to the legislature and executive branch on dealing with open records requests.”
In late-night vote, Senate Republicans pass state budget
With just a few minutes to midnight, Senate Republicans passed the two-year $72.7 billion state budget Tuesday after voting to repeal salary minimums for workers on local government projects but abandon proposals that would have gutted the state’s open records law.
Highlights of Wisconsin budget passed by Senate
Associated Press summary. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN— The university system’s budget would be cut by $250 million, it would be easier to fire tenured faculty, and faculty would have less of a role in making decisions under a weakening of the shared governance principle that national higher education experts say would make Wisconsin unique. In-state tuition would be frozen over the next two years.
Wisconsin Senate passes state budget
Updates from the Associated Press on the Senate budget vote.
Wisconsin Senate passes budget, sends it to Assembly
MADISON – The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate passed the $73 billion state budget just before midnight Tuesday, sending it to the Assembly after voting to repeal a prevailing wage law for local government projects, a move Democrats called an affront to the middle class.
Campuses scramble to find who wins, loses in budget shakeout
The final budget numbers that University of Wisconsin campuses have been dreading for months were released late Monday, prompting a mad scramble on campuses to figure out the winners and losers.