Author: Michelle Felber

Walker to Propose $300 Million Cut, Additional Flexibilities for UW System

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Governor Scott Walker announced today that he will offer the University of Wisconsin System full management flexibilities through public authority status as part of the 2015-17 biennial budget. At the same time, however, UW System’s budget will be reduced by $300 million over two years. Details of the plan are embedded below.

PROFS is deeply concerned about the magnitude of the proposed budget cut to UW System. PROFS President Grant Petty offered this statement:

While the governor is offering long sought-after management flexibilities, the budget cut coupled with a two-year extension of the current tuition freeze would result in serious harm to the institution.

The governor’s plan, along with a base budget cut implemented 2 years ago, will likely result in an $83 million annual cut to UW-Madison. A cut this large will result in fewer faculty and staff and have a direct impact on students and the quality of their education. Access to courses, advising, and time-to-degree could all be affected.

PROFS will continue to work with Chancellor Blank, President Ray Cross and shared governance leaders as we advocate for appropriate funding levels for the university.

Petty’s remarks echo those of UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who offered her thoughts on her blog, Blank’s Slate.

UW System issued statements from UW System President Ray Cross, Regent President Michael Falbo, and Regent Vice-President Regina Millner.

UW System also provided more details of the plan:

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Governor Walker will introduce his budget on February 3.

Budget Cuts and Public Authority for UW System

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Much has appeared in the media recently about possible public authority status for UW System. Little is known about the proposal, and Governor Scott Walker has not confirmed he will include it when he introduces his 2015-17 biennial budget next week.

PROFS president Grant Petty told Capital Times reporter Pat Schneider that additional budget cuts, even when coupled with additional administrative flexibilities, could seriously harm UW-Madison:

“UW-Madison has already had to absorb painful reductions in state support over the past ten years. There is no fat left in the budget . . . any additional funding reductions, no matter how small, would cut into that mission. The future worth of a degree from UW-Madison would be affected, as would the university’s continued ability to attract talented teachers and literally billions of dollars in direct and indirect economic benefits to the state of Wisconsin.”

Additional articles on the UW System and the 2015-17 biennial budget:

Speculation of big Scott Walker budget cut has UW-Milwaukee fearing worst (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/23/15)

UW Could Face $300 Million Revenue Loss, Changes to Tenure, Shared Governance (Media Milwaukee, 1/23/15)

Walker acknowledges considering more autonomy for UW System (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/20/15)

Governor Walker says he is considering more autonomy for the UW System (Wisconsin Public Radio, 1/20/15)

Tom Still: Coming debate over UW funding, structure deserves public attention (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/25/15)

Expect more students from outstate and abroad if expected state funding cuts come to UW (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/25/15)

UW System could see changes after next state budget (Channel 3000, 1/22/15)

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos supports more flexibility for UW System (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/23/15)

 

Modest Pension Increases Projected for WRS Retirees

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The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) announced yesterday that preliminary returns for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) should result in modest increases for retirees.

The Core Fund, the state’s largest trust fund at $88.7 billion, slightly surpassed its benchmark with a one-year return of 5.7 percent. The five-year return is projected to be 9.3 percent. The riskier Variable Fund, with holdings of $7.3 billion, lagged just behind its benchmark with a one-year return of 7.3 percent.

Last year both funds posted strong gains, resulting in the first increase for annuitants in five years.

PROFS carefully monitors legislation relating to WRS and lobbies for the best possible pensions for faculty.

In 2011, the legislature requested a study to examine allowing WRS participants to choose a defined contribution plan or opt out of WRS altogether. PROFS hosted a campus forum featuring experts on WRS, including the former legal counsel to SWIB and the former secretary of the Department of Employee Trust Funds. The resulting 2012 legislative report recommended no changes to WRS.

The state’s retirement system is very highly regarded — Morningstar recognized WRS as the strongest state pension in country, and the Pew Center on the States found WRS to be fully-funded and called it a “solid performer.”

Governor Walker to Deliver State of the State January 13, Budget Address February 3

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winter capitolGovernor Scott Walker will deliver his State of the State address at 7 pm Tuesday evening in the Assembly Chambers of the Capitol. The speech is usually an outline for the governor’s legislative and budget priorities for the coming year, but Walker might also hint at a possible run for president. Livestream coverage of the address will be available on public radio and television.

Walker will present his 2015-17 budget proposal to the Legislature on Tuesday, February 3. The state is facing a $2.2 billion shortfall if agency requests are fully funded. UW System has requested $95.2 million for the several items:

  • $30 million for a competitive grant program targeting six areas critical to the state’s economy: agriculture, finance, insurance/real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and water research.
  • $27.3 to cover a pay plan funding gap. Historically, UW System funds about 30 percent of a pay plan increase with tuition dollars. The two-year tuition freeze has led to a funding gap, with many campuses holding insufficient reserves to cover the pay plan.
  • $24.4 million to increase the number of college graduates statewide, with much of the funding directed to the Course Options program, a program that allows high school students to earn college credits. Additional funding would expand the Flex Option degree program, improve the credit transfer system, and assist working and first-generation college students.
  • $22.5 million in one-time funding to assist with the creation of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs. The money will be available to individual campuses through a competitive grant process.

PROFS has already met with the state’s budget director to advocate for the budget request and is working with other university stakeholders to secure the best possible outcome for UW-Madison.

2015 Legislature

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The Wheeler Report has compiled extensive lists of the 2015 Wisconsin Legislature. Members of the Assembly and Senate with contact information and committee assignments are listed below. Check back soon for the 2015 PROFS Legislative Directory, a list that includes links to legislative leadership and the Dane County delegation.

Assembly p. 1

Assembly p. 2

Assembly p. 3

Assembly p. 4

Assembly p. 5

Assembly p. 6

Senate p. 1

Senate p. 2

Senate p. 3

 

 

 

 

Governor Scott Walker Inauguration Speech

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Governor Scott Walker

Governor Scott Walker

Governor Scott Walker will deliver his inaugural address at 11 am today, Monday, January 5. Livestream coverage is available here.

Brief excerpts of the speech were released earlier today. In them, Walker emphasizes the role of the states over the federal government:

“We’ve been good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and lowered their tax burden as well. We’ve shown why the founders of this great nation looked to the states — and not the federal government — as the source of hope for this exceptional country. We will not let them down. Now, we have a grand vision for the future — a dream of freedom and prosperity for all who live here in the great state of Wisconsin.”

ETA: full remarks here.

UW System President Ray Cross Interview

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Steve Walters of WisconsinEye recently interviewed University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross to discuss the future of the University of Wisconsin System. Video of the interview is below.

Topics of discussion included a look to future budgeting and funding constraints, the possible creation of new engineering programs at three UW System campuses, and the relationship between UW System and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Walters and Cross spoke at length about Cross’ recent remarks to the Board of Regents and the subsequent plans for a transformational study of the UW System. Cross estimates this study will occur over the next several months, and faculty will be engaged in the process. Cross also said UW System must do a better job at communicating what faculty do, in and outside the classroom.

When asked if UW-Madison will be included with the proposed reforms, Cross said UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee have a research focus and the final recommendations may not fully apply to those two campuses.

 

Robin Vos on Teaching Load and Tenure

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Assembly Speaker Robin Vos

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) recently spoke with the Racine Journal Times editorial board, where he shared his views on a range of issues including right to work, school accountability and employment for prisoners.

Vos also discussed his views on UW System and its faculty, saying he was concerned about the amount of time faculty spend outside the classroom:

“If they’re bringing in research, I totally understand that; they’re helping to grow the economy or even grow the public good. But if they are just being allowed course releases to have a sabbatical or to do something that’s not productive, we don’t have the money to do that.”

On tenure:

“Do I believe in tenure? I don’t. It’s an anachronism; it was something that was back from the ‘50s and ‘60s. I don’t think anyone should be given a job for life, which is what tenure is.”

PROFS President Grant Petty notes that tenure is not a job for life, and in fact tenure was developed in the early 20th century to offer faculty due process and protect their academic freedom:

“Tenure is the foundation of great research and teaching institutions. It does not offer one a job for life, but instead allows faculty to pursue scholarly endeavors without fear of ideological or political attack.”

UW System President Ray Cross’ Remarks to Regents

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UW System President Ray Cross

University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross addressed the Board of Regents Friday, broadly outlining reforms intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness while allowing the university to be more responsive to the needs of the state.

Some of the areas mentioned for reform:

  • Faculty workload
  • Class offerings and low-enrollment courses
  • Search processes for chancellors
  • Credit requirements
  • Student segregated fees
  • Administrative operations

PROFS President Grant Petty told the Wisconsin State Journal that courses are already examined carefully and cautioned against using credit hours taught as the only measure of efficiency:

“(L)ow-enrollment courses here at UW-Madison are often also high-impact courses. That is, they are usually taught to advanced students on a specialized topic by a professor with world-class expertise in that subject. Sometimes losing low-enrollment courses due to budget constraints means that our students lose valuable educational opportunities. Efficiency at UW-Madison cannot and should not be measured strictly in terms of the number of student credit-hours taught.”

Cross’ full remarks are here:

December Board of Regents Meeting

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uw system logoThe University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will meet Thursday and Friday, December 4 and 5 at at UW-Madison. The meeting will be held in the Symphony and Overture Rooms of Gordon Dining and Event Center, 770 West Dayton Street. Livestream coverage of the meeting will be available here.

The regents will meet in committees Thursday afternoon and Friday morning:

The Education Committee will discuss UW System baccalaureate engineering programs, including the proposal to create a Northwest Wisconsin Engineering Consortium at UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, and UW-Eau Claire. Earlier this year, UW System commissioned a study to examine the potential need for more engineers in the state.

The Business and Finance Committee will hear a quarterly report on gifts and grants, review the trust funds investment policy, and listen project update reports.

The Capital Planning and Budget Committee will discuss proposed building projects, including projects at Grainger Hall and Elizabeth Waters Residence Hall. The Grainger Hall project to renovate two classrooms will be paid for entirely through gift funds, while the residence hall project requires additional funding authority.

Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch has been invited to address the Research, Economic Development, and Innovation Committee. The committee will also hear updates on Economic Development Incentive Grant recipients, including Discovery to Product (D2P) at UW-Madison.

The Audit Committee will discuss recent UW System audit reports and consider a request for proposals to create a waste, fraud and abuse hotline.

The full board begins its meeting at 9 am Friday. UW System President Ray Cross will address the board, providing his thoughts on transforming the way the university does business. The regents will hear reports from the Higher Educational Aids Board, the Hospital Authority Board, and the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.