University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank encouraged alumni to voice support for the university to state legislators Tuesday at UW Lobby Day.
At the event sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, Blank stressed the importance of state funding to a world-renowned research university. The university’s funding has been cut in five of the last six state budget sessions, she said.
“The UW System budget cannot be a loser in the upcoming budget fight because when the university loses, the state loses,” Blank said.
$250 million cut to UW System remains as Assembly passes state budget
Blank highlighted UW’s retention and graduation rates and internship opportunities. She also noted its ranking as the Big Ten university with the highest percentage of students studying abroad and top five in the world ranking for expenditures made in research as signs of the university’s importance.
UW has received some of the deepest budget cuts in the nation over the last decade, Blank said. She added these budget cuts have brought major national publicity to the Wisconsin school system, negatively impacting its reputation.
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Because of budget cuts, Blank said, UW is eliminating 420 staff and faculty positions. These cuts mean fewer courses and larger class sizes, she said. Additionally, there will be fewer student jobs available to compensate for the cuts.
Budget cuts have also affected university facilities. The university received no money for maintenance and upkeep in the last budget, despite being one of the largest physical plants of any state unit, Blank said. If the steam pipes break next winter the money for repairs will have to come out of educational funds, she said.
Blank also highlighted the university’s role in job creation in the state. For every taxpayer dollar spent on the university, the university generates $24 for the state economy, she said.
“What I find most frustrating is the lack of any investment money to take advantage of new opportunities that will keep us competitive and keep us on the front edge of higher education,” she said.
Blank unveiled new ways the university can generate revenue and said UW needs to think strategically about forms of revenue other than residential education. She said the university needs to provide more short courses, professional certification, nondegree courses and expand summer programs.
UW receives donations and gifts from alumni, but these are not enough, Blank said. State funding and donations are correlated, so when funding goes down, so do donations. In the long run, she said the university needs both state dollars and campaign dollars to be the university it wants to be.
“The most important thing you can do is to motivate people that might be willing to join the team if asked,” Blank said.
