The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet today at UW-Parkside to begin their monthly two-day meeting and debate two new initiatives.

The regents are scheduled to vote on whether to designate UW-Stout as the state's only polytechnic university, as well as decide on the Chippewa Valley Technical College Associate of Science Degree Liberal Arts Transfer Program.

The CVTCA degree, a new program at Chippewa Valley Technical College, would be broken down so two-thirds of the curriculum would be offered by the technical colleges, and the remaining third by UW System institutions.

UW System spokesperson David Giroux said the CVTCA degree would clear the way for students who may not be prepared for a big university environment to start at a two-year campus, while working toward a four-year degree.

"This will provide educational pathways to students over in western Wisconsin," Giroux said. "Eau Claire is becoming increasingly competitive in terms of admissions, and this program allows students to still compete and later be admitted into a [Eau Claire] program."

Giroux added the CVTCA degree program is similar to what is currently in place between Madison Area Technical College and UW-Madison, and would help take some enrollment pressure away from the flagship campus.

UW-Stout Communications Director Doug Mell said Chancellor Charles Sorensen would first present to the Board of Regents Education Committee Thursday on why the campus should receive the polytechnic distinction. The board will then vote on the proposal Friday.

Mell added UW-Stout is deserving of the distinction since many of the required characteristics are already in place, such as the activity of applied laboratories on campus, the strong emphasis on science and technology and a commitment to programs in the liberal arts.

UW-Stout, Mell said, already has programs in humanities, education, social, natural and human sciences, math, computer science and engineering.

"This is a niche to carve out within the UW System — or for aspiration purposes, an MIT," Giroux said. "This is not a mission change for the university, but a designation to make Stout a distinctive campus from the other UW institutions."

In addition, the board will formally discuss Gov. Jim Doyle's budget recommendations and how it affects the UW System. They will also hear presentations about the options for expanding UW-Waukesha to offer more four-year degree programs and hear recommendations for regent involvement with information technology projects.

David Walsh, president of the Board of Regents, said he is pleased with the governor's commitment to higher education, including specific programs for targeted groups such as nursing, teaching and special students. Walsh added the funds would be available with inflation taken into account.

"The governor provided funding for the growth initiative," Walsh said. "We do not receive the funding for all our recommendations, but we got most of it and will have it to move forward."

The Board of Regents, Giroux said, will also hear a presentation given by UW System President Kevin Reilly on the options for UW-Waukesha to provide more four-year degree programs. Potential options include a university center, the merger between UW Waukesha and UW-Milwaukee or making UW-Waukesha an independent campus.

Walsh said the board would recommend the continuation of a university center where students can take classes on the UW-Waukesha campus, yet earn a four-year degree from one of the UW System institutions.

"The university center — [that] is the most cost-effective way to increase programs for students," Walsh said. "We need to be sensitive to the costs."

The regents will also discuss the recommendations the board received from an auditor involving their role in IT programs.

After the failed Appointment, Payroll and Benefits System lost the UW System $28.4 million recently, the auditor recommended the UW System provide the Board of Regents with an inventory of major IT projects scheduled for implementation. The auditor also recommended that UW System management provide regular updates to the board on the project's implementation.

"We need to be informed about the status of major initiatives," Walsh said. "We cannot get involved with micro-managing the university. … There is a delicate balance between being a supervisor and a micro-manager."