News

Reilly outlines hopes, ideas to board

Despite a $250 million budget cut hanging over his head, Kevin Reilly maintained an optimistic air as he relayed his future plans to the Board of Regents Thursday morning.

Reilly filled the Regents in on how his presidency has taken shape in the past several weeks.

During his inaugural address, Reilly outlined four priorities he hopes to enact this fall.

Reilly has introduced the idea of a student access budget, which he says “contains financial aid that will, in effect, freeze tuition for students from families with annual incomes in the low $40,000 range and below.”

He said it is called a student access budget because it will enable working adults to access educational opportunities throughout their careers.

Reilly also called the new plan a “Wisconsin success” budget, suggesting that by increasing the number of people with college degrees in the state of Wisconsin, it will increase the success of its citizens.

Reilly’s optimism continued as he explained the state will take in about $70 million more than originally thought.

“The UW system seems an excellent place to invest some of that growth,” Reilly said.

To make his program for a better UW system work, Reilly will invest his time in several undertakings.

The president will work with Regent Elizabeth Burmaster, vice chair of education, to increase the number of high school students interested in pursuing a higher education degree.

Reilly said the goal was to “make sure that college is a viable, recognized option for our high school graduates.”

Reilly also highlighted the need to focus on minority and lower-income students.

“The wage gap between blacks and whites continues to increase,” he said. “It isn’t a matter, of course, of simply recruiting them; we must give them the tools they need to stay in school and be successful.”

Reilly made special note of his interest in preserving an open relationship with the student media.

“I feel an obligation to do this because where once students paid about a quarter of their instructional costs, they are now paying close to half those costs. Students represent our greatest contribution to the state’s economy,” he said.

Thursday’s meeting marked the first time a Board of Regents meeting was broadcast live over the Internet.

The Physical Planning and Funding Committee discussed a proposal by the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority to build the American Family Children’s Hospital.

“I’m happy to be associated with this consideration,” said Regent Jesus Salas. “I’ve read over it (the proposal) and am very impressed.”

Vice Chancellor David Walsh says the proposal will not cost UW or the state.