MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Interim University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson wants the governor to give the system a nearly $100 million boost in the next state budget.
Thompson said, “we’re putting together an aggressive budget that’s meeting the needs of the people and the state of Wisconsin.”
Thompson announced Tuesday that he plans to ask Gov. Tony Evers to increase state aid to the system by $95.7 million in the 2021-23 state budget.
The request comes as the system has been grappling with a seven-year freeze on in-state undergraduate tuition and budget reductions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s going to meet the needs of the people of the state of Wisconsin and it’s going to meet the needs of educating young men and women,” said Thompson.
FOX 11 asked why Thompson is asking for an increase in the budget, after facing budget cuts. The UW System has faced over $40 million since March.
“I’m only trying to get back 97 million which we’ve already been cut by 120 million. But I need the money to build the university and if I build the University I’ll build Wisconsin.”
System administration plans to lay off an untold number of employees over the next two years to held ends meet.
Thompson’s budget has 10 goals to build the UW system.
One thing the budget would focus on is the freshwater collaborative of Wisconsin project, which is growing right on UWGB’s campus.
UWGB Chancellor Michael Alexander tells FOX 11 this initiative — and more money to support it — is important to the campus.
“The position Green Bay is in it’s pretty obvious why freshwater research is so important, it’s also one of the fastest growing majors.”
The budget also focuses on supporting student health, tuition assistance, and expanding education opportunities in Wisconsin’s prisons.
“We have serious economic problems for people all over the state and I wanted a budget that was going to address the needs of Wisconsin,” said Thopmson, “I want it to rejuvenate the University of Wisconsin.”
Thompson hopes to do this, while making sure students who enroll in the UW system, don’t have to spend more on tuition.
UWGB says its in a good financial spot, right now.
It hopes rising enrollment over the last five years will help mitigate any other losses.
