{"id":7874,"date":"2016-08-30T13:13:37","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T18:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/profs.wisc.edu\/?p=7874"},"modified":"2016-08-30T13:13:37","modified_gmt":"2016-08-30T18:13:37","slug":"legislative-update-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/profs.wisc.edu\/?p=7874","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

History\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2015-17 biennial budget process was difficult \u2013 UW System received<\/a> a $250 million budget cut along with a two-year extension of a tuition freeze. PROFS played a key role in one budget bright spot: funding for the much-needed Chemistry Building project<\/a>. In prior budget cycles, PROFS led the fight to ensure retirement contributions are taken pre-tax, saving the average faculty member about $1,800 per year and successfully lobbied for domestic partner benefits and first-day health coverage for faculty and staff.\u00a0Looking ahead:<\/p>\n

2017-19 Biennial Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Governor Walker instructed<\/a> all agency heads to prepare budgets with zero increases, the Board of Regents approved a $42.5 million increase in state funding over the next biennium. The increase will largely go toward initiatives to develop the state\u2019s workforce and improve its economy, a plan called 2020FWD<\/a>. The governor has also said<\/a> he might consider performance-based funding increases for UW. Criteria for such an increase might include graduation and post-graduation employment rates.<\/p>\n

FWD2020 highlights<\/a>:<\/p>\n