Tough Decisions Ahead to Balance UWS Budget
Posted at: 11/27/2012 12:00 AM
| Updated at: 11/28/2012 4:20 PM
By: Travis Dill
UWS leaders believe they can fill the latest funding gap of $300,000, but they said it will make it harder for them to be competitive in the college market.
It is a problem that is easy to overlook for most Wisconsin residents.
“I don't think the average Wisconsinite realizes what kind of short deal the university system is getting right now,” Student Body President Graham Garfield said.
Chancellor Renee Wachter said the state funding isn't likely to be returned anytime soon so the school must look at the funding cuts in a new way.
“Something like the new normal, meaning that our funding base is actually going to remain smaller over time. That there's lots of needs the state has in terms of Medicaid and Medicare and other kinds of infrastructure issues,” Chancellor Wachter said.
The university is looking to become more efficient with spending, and they are also looking to recruit new students from the Twin Cities.
But student don't think that is the only way forward.
“It saddens me when I see us saying the only future for UWS is to go to the Twin Cities. The fact is those students already have a lot of great options for colleges down there...” Garfield said.
Garfield said the student government at UWS will reach out to high school students in Northern Wisconsin, but he said the real issue lies in the state funding cuts.
“It's not the UW-system's fault, it's not our administration's fault, it really is the state's fault that they have cut so much money both Democrats and Republicans...” Garfield said.
A smaller funding base may be the new normal, but both Chancellor Wachter and Student Body President Garfield said they will continue to fight for increased state funding.
Over the last two years UWS has faced a $1 million gap when balancing its budget.
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