Category: The state

Should States Be Pressured Into Investing in Higher Education?

Todd Finkelmeyer recently wrapped up his reporting career at The Capital Times to begin a new position as communications director UW-Madison’s School of Education. PROFS always found his reporting on higher education to be detailed and fair and he contributed…

Judge Refuses to Stay Collective Bargaining Ruling

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Juan Colas yesterday refused to stay his September decision that overturned much of Act 10 for municipal employees and teachers. Act 10, the budget repair bill, sharply curtailed collective bargaining for public workers. Earlier this…

Early Voting and Absentee Balloting

Absentee balloting is underway and early voting begins next week. The Government Accountability Board outlines options for absentee balloting here. Requests for an absentee ballot must be made to a municipal clerk by 5 pm on Thursday, November 1. Voters…

October Regent Meeting

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents met at UW-Stout last week. Oversight of athletics and enrollment management were among the topics discussed at the two-day meeting. Athletic Oversight The regents are considering implementing new reporting processes that would…

UW System Biennial Budget Request Released

The University of Wisconsin System submitted itsĀ 2013-15 biennial budget request to the state’s Department of Administration Monday. The request was a formality — the Board of Regents voted in support of the request at its August meeting. UW System President…

Judge Overturns Collective Bargaining Law

Late yesterday afternoon Dane County Circuit Court Judge Juan Colas overturned parts of Act 10, the bill that sharply curtailed collective bargaining rights for most public employees, stating that the law violated workers’ constitutional rights to free speech, free association,…

Grant Petty: The Value of Supporting Our Public Universities

Atmospheric Science Professor Grant Petty offered his view on public higher education in the August 31 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Petty is a member of the PROFS Steering Committee, the PROFS Board of Directors, and the University Committee. The entire column…

Voter ID Update

Last week, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen asked the state’s Supreme Court to review two lower courts’ rulings on the state’s voter identification laws. Parts of the laws were suspended earlier this spring as a result of two separate…

Legislative Update

A recap of PROFS’ recent activities: The Special Task Force on UW Restructuring and Operational Flexibilities concluded its work in June and released its recommendations in August. The committee heard from Professor Brad Barham, chair of the University Committee, at…

Two Views on UW Flexibility

Today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offers two editorials about granting UW System increased management flexibilities. First, the Journal Sentinel’s editorial board argues that UW campuses deserve more autonomy and should be given more control over their finances and building projects: The…