Friday’s article regarding my remarks to the UW Board of Regents concerning the proposed budget lacked some important context. It characterized my view of the university’s fortunes as “grim” when, in fact, the governor’s budget provides many significant advances for our campus.
As my colleagues and I pointed out, it provides new sources of financial aid for low- and middle-income students, funding for research initiatives, resources for faculty retention and recruitment and support for domestic partner health benefits.
The 5 percent cuts mentioned were a worst-case scenario — something that could result if no tuition funds were used to help offset reductions and if there were a 1 percent cut on all funds. I stated that I don’t expect that will be the outcome.