UW System President Cross Continues Push For Increased State Funding

University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross said employers in Wisconsin are “screaming” for more talent offered by graduates from state campuses as he continued his pitch for more investment in state higher education.

Cross addressed the UW System Board of Regents a week after the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee cut a proposed increase in UW funding by more than half.

In his state budget proposal, Gov. Tony Evers called for an increase of $130 million for UW System schools. The budget committee rejected that plan and approved an increase of about $58 million for the UW System. Of that amount, $45 million would be subject to later approval after UW administrators provide a report on how the funds would be spent.

Cross told regents Thursday that the UW System is “invaluable” to the state and that “we must not be passive when it is so clear that no one else, no other entity can do what we can do to help our state and our economy.”

“In every region of the state I visit, I hear from employers and community leaders who are screaming for talent,” said Cross. “The UW System is the answer.”

After the JFC initially sacked the governor’s proposed increase for the UW System, Cross said he felt like he had been “kicked in the shins.” He told regents that despite the “ups and downs” of the budget process, the need for additional investment in the UW System’s operating budget and capital budget persists.

“That’s why our operating budget request was reasonable and reflects our commitment to Wisconsin,” he said. “That commitment to our students, faculty and staff and to the citizens of this state will not change. For that reason, we will continue to relentlessly work to convince legislators, business leaders, community members and others of the importance to all of us of investing in the UW.”

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone also addressed regents on the budget. He said administrators on campus had to cut more than $41 million in the first three years after being named chancellor in 2014. Since UW-Milwaukee achieved a national designation as a Research I institution in 2016, Mone said the campus has ranked among the bottom in terms of the number of faculty and pay.

But Mone said continued budget constraints have also hampered a campus initiative to increase diversity of faculty and staff on campus.

“I want to become a Hispanic-serving institution, but it’s very difficult to do that if you don’t have more faculty of color and staff of color,” said Mone. “When you’re retrenching, it’s hard to grow. So, that’s the crossroads that we’re at.”