UW Regents Approve Request For $42.5M In New Funding

The University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents approved a request for $42.5 million in new state spending on Thursday.

The funds would be used launch new initiatives, including programs to help students graduate faster, improve advising services and expand internship programs.

In her opening remarks, Regent President Regina Millner told the board that recent meetings with Gov. Scott Walker and state legislators about the request—which was made public last week—have been mostly successful.

“Overall, the response has been very positive, and the key word we keep hearing is ‘reasonable,’” Millner said.

The UW System requested $95 million in new spending in its last biennial budget request. Instead, the Legislature cut the system budget by $250 million.

“We have a great deal of hard work ahead of us convincing the governor and legislators that the UW can serve as an economic engine for all of Wisconsin,” Millner said.

Walker has said he is open to approving a funding increase for the UW System, but wants to tie that new money to performance measures.

The budget request now goes to the governor, who will present his state budget to the Legislature in January.