Budget statement/Chancellor John Wiley

“We would like to thank Gov. Scott McCallum and legislative leaders from both parties for their support of the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2001-03 budget.

“Despite tightening financial times, the budget they have formulated represents significant support for UW–Madison and our students and is a major step forward for the state.

“The budget also will support the Madison Initiative partnership between the state’s taxpayers, students, and our alumni and donors. The investment will lead to new jobs, new business development and a generation of college graduates prepared for the higher-quality jobs of the future.

“We launched the Madison Initiative with the understanding that funding would be split between the state, students and our alumni and donors. Providing adequate support from the state taxpayers will ensure the commitment of $20 million in private matching funds from the UW Foundation and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

“The budget also supports another pivotal component of the state’s high-tech economy by fully funding BioStar. BioStar is a public-private partnership that modernizes teaching and research space for the biosciences, laying a solid foundation for continued growth in the state’s biotechnology business sector. With the state’s commitment, UW–Madison will be able to raise the private matching funds necessary for the project’s success.

“The funding for Biostar will also provide the university with the means necessary to continue to build opportunities for the future of Wisconsin. Through technology transfer, patents on new discoveries and job growth from the creation of spinoff companies, UW–Madison will continue to help strengthen Wisconsin as a global player in the New Economy.

“We appreciate Gov. McCallum’s commitment of strong support for the university as evidenced by this budget.”

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NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A selection of high-resolution images of Chancellor John Wiley is available for downloading at:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/newsphotos/wiley.html