UW–Madison and the State Budget

Budget News

• Statement of Chancellor Rebecca Blank in response to Governor Evers’ Capital Budget Proposal

  February 22, 2021

  Chancellor Rebecca Blank shared the following statement in response to Governor Evers’ 2021-23 Capital Budget Proposal.

  “Governor Evers’ capital budget plan includes a major investment in higher education infrastructure that is critical for the future of Wisconsin. I am especially thankful for the inclusion of two major UW-Madison projects, the new College of Engineering building and the new College of Letters and Science Academic building, in his proposal.

  “The UW–Madison College of Engineering is the second largest school/college on campus, with nearly 1,500 future engineering leaders of Wisconsin earning degrees each year. UW–Madison engineering graduates are vital to the state’s workforce and economic development needs, but we need more of them. Every year, many more students apply to be an engineering major than the College of Engineering has the capacity to accept. A new, state of-the-art building will provide the college the space to educate more engineering students and enable it to recruit and retain top-tier faculty members, sustaining our excellence in research and graduate education.

  “The College of Letters & Science (L&S) is the largest of UW–Madison’s 13 schools and colleges, with nearly 20,000 students, 37 academic departments and schools, more than 120 undergraduate and graduate majors and 73 interdisciplinary research centers and institutes. As the foundation of a UW educational experience, nearly two-thirds of all undergraduate credit hours come from L&S. Unfortunately, the Humanities Building — one of campus’ biggest buildings and a primary home for many L&S courses — is in dire condition and is failing to support student needs. A new L&S Academic Building will provide modern classrooms and space for a number of programs currently housed in Humanities.

  “I am also pleased to see a healthy investment in the All Agency program to support maintenance work across the UW System. I thank Governor Evers for his support of these important projects, and I look forward to continuing to work with the governor and legislative leaders through the budget process.”

• Governor’s budget designed to help the university ‘bounce back’

  February 17, 2021

  Calling higher education an economic driver for Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers proposed a major reinvestment in the University of Wisconsin System.

  Evers unveiled his proposed 2021-23 biennial state budget on Tuesday evening, recommending an additional $191 million in funding for the UW System. Breaking a decades-long trend, the budget calls for spending more on colleges than prisons.

• Statement of Chancellor Rebecca Blank in response to Governor Evers’ Budget Proposal

  February 16, 2021

  Chancellor Rebecca Blank shared the following statement in response to Governor Evers’ 2021-23 Budget Proposal.

  “I want to thank Governor Evers for a budget proposal that recognizes the vital role the UW System plays in educating tomorrow’s leaders and in the economic development of Wisconsin.

  “New investment in UW-Madison and other campuses means greater access to a college degree for Wisconsin high school graduates, a better educational experience for those who come here, more life-changing research and expanded outreach to all corners of our state. This investment would help us recover from the effects of the pandemic more quickly and return to the classroom this fall.

  “The proposal to support agriculture-related positions within the Division of Extension and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW-Madison is a particular example of how our work has an impact throughout Wisconsin.

  “The executive budget also includes critical flexibilities to ensure that UW-Madison has the tools to operate like a modern flagship campus.

  “I look forward to continuing to work with the governor and legislative leaders through the budget process.”

   

   

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