Wisconsin’s university system is the envy of the nation. Our colleges, universities and technical colleges provide vital research, innovation and a workforce that drives our state economy. And we have the best and the brightest students, keeping our state positioned to lead the country in the future.

In a rapidly changing global economy, it has never been more important to invest in our colleges, universities and students, and provide them with the support they need, not only to maintain current services and staff, but to excel well into the future, and remain a major resource and economic engine for our state.

Since I proposed my budget to the Legislature seven months ago, I’ve visited campuses across the state, heard from university chancellors and campus leaders — from students, parents, advisers and housing administrators.

And just as I am, they are all highly concerned about the disastrous cuts made to higher education in the Assembly budget. In total, the Assembly would cut $162 million from our campuses and $44 million in financial aid, placing 6,400 students on waiting lists to receive financial assistance for the upcoming academic year.

I’ve heard from students who are concerned about gaining access to college and whether or not there will be a place for them in Wisconsin. I’ve heard from parents concerned about affordability. They want the confidence to know that if their student has earned his or her way to higher education that there will be financial assistance to help them afford that opportunity.

I’ve heard from teachers and professors concerned about class sizes, textbooks and the quality of education we are providing to our students.

And I’ve heard from businesses concerned about recruitment, growth and meeting the need for additional engineers, nurses and teachers.

I am equally concerned about the timeliness of this budget process.

We absolutely need the Legislature to pass a budget now. We have reached a critical point — students are arriving on campuses across this state without knowing how much financial aid they will be receiving.

The Board of Regents was forced to set tuition without fully knowing what their budget picture looks like. And families, too, are putting together their own budgets so they can plan for the school year.

Everyone here knows how important education is to the future of this state. The Legislature needs to get real and act now. They must pass a budget that I can sign — one that supports our students and invests in the economic future of our state.

Jim Doyle is currently serving in his sixth year as governor of Wisconsin.