In a post on her blog, Blank’s Slate, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank takes a look at Governor Tony Evers proposal for funding UW System in the 2019-21 biennial budget.
Last week, Governor Tony Evers introduced a very promising UW System budget proposal for the next biennium. It includes – among other plans – a robust reinvestment in higher education, more funding for financial aid, targeted investment in high-demand majors to promote workforce development, and a much-needed pay plan that will keep our faculty and staff from falling further behind their peers at other institutions.
This is only a proposal and (as discussed below) it’s not clear how the legislature will respond to these proposals or what the final budget will contain in higher education funding. But the Governor’s budget is a starting point.
As I’ve said many times, budgets demonstrate priorities. It’s clear the governor, a career educator, understands that spending on education yields a strong return on investment, and a strong higher education system is a driver of the economy statewide.
The UW changes lives. This plan to reinvest recognizes the potential for our students, faculty, staff and alumni to positively impact our communities around the state.