UW-Madison Chancellor Plans To Eliminate 400 Positions If Budget Cuts Pass

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank says she has a plan to cut about 400 staff positions if the Legislature approves Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed $300 million budget cut to the UW System.

The chancellor’s plan includes ending some programs and merging others in the areas of information technology, the arts and agriculture.

Blank announced the plan on her blog on Friday, writing that the result will be larger class sizes and fewer course options.

Professor of atmospheric science Grant Petty serves on the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. He said faculty have been aware of the plan for some time and are worried about its impact.

“We have already been stretched due to past cuts and there is simply no way to absorb any new cuts without cutting into that capacity. And by capacity, I mean the capacity to give Wisconsin students a quality education,” said Petty.

University officials from around the state continue to lobby the Legislature to reduce the size of budget cuts. Legislators in the Republican majority say they plan to reduce the cut before voting on the budget.