The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents today approved its 2027-29 operating budget request proposal.

The budget request is based on three promises the UWs are making to all Wisconsinites:

• Ensure every Wisconsinite has access to an affordable, high-quality UW education.
• Build Wisconsin’s workforce and next generation of businesses.
• Advance life-saving discoveries and improve access to health care across Wisconsin.

The budget request includes several key initiatives:

• A 4-Year Tuition Pledge to freeze tuition for the 2027-29 biennium, provided the state invests $190 million to support the cost of the freeze and other operating needs that preserve educational quality. Tuition in subsequent years would not increase at a rate greater than inflation.
• Wisconsin Work and Learn, a last-dollar aid program for students from families earning less than the state median income in exchange for a work commitment.
• Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin, which would create 300,000 career-ready workers, upskill 1 million workers for better jobs, and create 2,500 new businesses over a decade.
• Healthy Wisconsin, which would train 35,000 new health care professionals in the next decade.
• Cures for Tomorrow, a proposal to advance life-saving discoveries in cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other devastating diseases.

Information related to the budget request can be found on wisconsin.edu/promise.

The regents also approved the 2027-29 capital budget request.

Both the operating and capital budget requests will be delivered to the state Department of Administration for consideration by the governor and legislature.