Blank reacts to Joint Finance Committee wrap-up

Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued a statement Friday in response to Thursday’s final meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance. The 2015-17 state budget next goes to the full Assembly and Senate.

“I am disappointed that the budget proposal coming out of the Joint Committee on Finance does not eliminate or modify the language around faculty dismissals to align with the standards of our peer institutions and the American Association of University Professors.

“As with any university, our reputation depends on the quality of our faculty. Unfortunately, the inclusion of this language has created negative national publicity that will hinder the ability of UW–Madison to attract and retain the best faculty and staff.

“While I appreciate the actions that the committee took to support the university – in particular reducing the size of the UW System budget cut and providing funding for the Chemistry Building project – we will continue to talk with legislators in an attempt to have the faculty dismissal language removed or amended at the next stage of the budget process.

“Moreover, we will pursue a dialog with legislators about how state and university leaders can work together to strengthen higher education in Wisconsin. The top priority we must all share is for Wisconsin to maintain its world-class public research institution and the value it creates for taxpayers.”