Regents back proposed funding partnership

The UW System Board of Regents has thrown its support behind a proposal to ensure UW–Madison’s excellence in the next century.

Unveiled by Chancellor David Ward in June, the proposal seeks to build a partnership between the state and the university’s alumni and donors. Under the plan, $57 million in state tax dollars and tuition would be matched by income from a $200 million endowment to be raised by private donors and other sources.

The funding is projected over the next two state budgets, and the first $32.2 million in state money for the proposal was requested as part of the UW System’s 1999-2001 budget proposal approved Aug. 20 by the regents. Regent support for the initiative is critical, as state agencies are submitting funding requests to Gov. Tommy Thompson and the Legislature for what is expected to be a lean two-year state budget.

“The way this proposal has been put together – in a public-private partnership – is absolutely the way to ensure that the university keeps the status it has enjoyed for decades,” said Regent Kathleen Hempel of Green Bay.

The proposal targets five areas for investment: recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty; research and instructional initiatives, such as biotechnology; building renovation and maintenance; academic infrastructure, specifically libraries, instructional technology, international education and advising; and financial aid.

Tuition at UW–Madison is projected to increase 2 percent to help fund the budget initiative, while the tuition increase for the UW System as a whole is 3.5 percent.

At the regents meeting, students said they supported the Madison budget initiative but criticized the differential tuition increase. That increase in tuition, however, will be offset by a boost in financial aid — which means that UW–Madison undergraduates who qualify for the aid will not have to pay for it, said John Torphy, vice chancellor for administration.

The Madison proposal is designed to bring the university to the Big Ten median in terms of student support from state dollars and tuition. UW–Madison currently is about $1,900 per student below the Big Ten mid-point.

The 1999-2001 UW System budget totals $5.8 billion, a 6.8 percent increase in spending over two years. The budget does not include pay raises for faculty and academic staff, which will be determined separately by the Legislature.

As part of the budget, the regents also requested $290 million for construction, including $9 million for renovating Chamberlin Hall and $7 million for utility upgrades at UW- Madison.

“We’re pleased the regents incorporated the Madison initiatives in the budget,” Torphy said. “We are looking forward to working with the governor and the Legislature to obtain the resources we need.”