Thompson touts ‘bold investment’ in UW
Here is what Gov. Tommy Thompson had to say about higher education in his budget speech Tuesday, Feb. 16:
“The crown jewel of our education system is the University of Wisconsin System – an incubator of ideas that improve our economy and better the condition of our society. The UW stands as a bright beacon of knowledge that will guide us forward on our journey into the new millennium.
“So today, I present to you a $66 million investment in the UW System and our future.
“We begin with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, one of the nation’s leading education and research institutions.
“Its hallowed halls are the birthplace of landmark discoveries, from revolutionizing the dairy industry and discovering vitamin D to mapping living DNA.
“The UW–Madison remains one the world’s great laboratories of innovation – and the products of its research netted the university $18 million in royalties and licensing fees last year alone.
“To keep the University of Wisconsin on the cutting-edge of the nation’s public research universities, we should support a new Madison Initiative — a $30 million investment in the campus and the discoveries of tomorrow.
“The Madison Initiative invests directly in facilities renewal, preventive maintenance and library acquisition – upgrading laboratories and computer resources.
“Also, the Madison Initiative would attract and keep world-class faculty with competitive salaries, stimulate increased federal and privately supported research, enhance Wisconsin’s competitiveness in the global economy, and generate new high-tech businesses from cutting-edge research.
“The initiative particularly seeks to build upon the University of Wisconsin’s national leadership in biotechnology, providing resources for faculty and courses in biomedical engineering, computer engineering and biotechnology.
“In addition, we seek $1 million to create a nonprofit venture capital company to invest in biotechnology projects and transfer discoveries to the private sector for the benefit of everyone.
“The Madison Initiative is a dramatic investment that matches the boldness of our flagship university, and its benefactors will be the people of Wisconsin.
“Our proposed investments in higher education rightfully reach beyond the Madison campus as well, bolstering the strongest system of universities in America. For the entire UW System, this budget invests $12.5 million in library and acquisition capabilities, including expansion of electronic information resources and hiring additional student IT workers; $3 million to expand international education opportunities, including a new undergraduate program in global studies at UW-Milwaukee; and $2.5 million for undergraduate academic and career advising to help our students focus on their individual goals once they reach a UW campus.
“Finally, our budget builds on one of the greatest strengths of the university system – its accessibility.
“A UW education remains the best bargain for the buck in America: tuition is the 10th lowest in the Big Ten and accessibility ranks 11th best in the entire nation.
“However, we seek to make our universities even more accessible by:
“Spending an additional $700,000 to prepare minority high school students for college – building on efforts to attract more minorities to our campuses.
“Increasing student financial aid by 12 percent over the biennium – an $8.7 million increase — and providing greater flexibility in setting the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant formula.
“And providing the Board of Regents greater flexibility to meet the resource needs of the university system – making sure the UW System remains dynamic and strong.
“Our plan is a bold new investment in higher education that will return great dividends for our families, our economy and our state.
“Just as there are no limits to our students’ imaginations, there are no limits to the greatness of the Wisconsin education system in the frontiers of possibility.”
To read the full text of the budget message, visit: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/99sp/budget_address.htm