TO: UW-­‐Stout Students, Faculty and Staff via electronic mail FROM: Doug Mell, executive director of Communications and External Relations DATE: Feb. 3, 2015 RE: Gov. Walker releases 2015-­‐17 state budget Gov. Scott Walker Tuesday night released his 2015-­‐17 budget proposal. This email summarizes the sections of the documents the governor released that pertain to the UW System. The governor is recommending a cut in state support of $150 million for the first year of the biennium, which begins July 1. That $150 million cut would continue for the second year as well. Chancellor Bob Meyer will host a budget forum at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday in Room 208 of Heritage Hall. Seating is limited, so the forum will be streamed live at http://new.livestream.com/uwstoutmsc/CampusBudget2015. In addition, the Grandview Terrace in the Memorial Student Center will be available as an overflow room to watch the video. Here are the governor’s higher-­‐education remarks from his address: “As I mentioned in our State of the State address, we propose that several agencies be merged and various programs be consolidated to provide better service to the customer, as well as better value to the taxpayers. “Here's a good example: for years, supporters of the University of Wisconsin system said freeing them of being directly under the state government bureaucracy would help reduce costs in multiple areas for the system. This budget includes a bold proposal to provide new governance through an authority, similar to the one used for the UW Hospital and Clinics. “Recently, some have raised concerns about this proposed reform. These are some of the same claims we heard four years ago when our Act 10 reforms were enacted. Today, our graduation rates are higher, third grade reading scores are better, and Wisconsin ACT scores are second best in the country. “With this in mind, I ask the legislature to give our bold reform idea a serious look. As the father of a UW student, I have a real interest in the success of our state system and I believe this will make the University of Wisconsin stronger in the years to come.” Here are the details from the governor’s Budget in Brief: 
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Position the University of Wisconsin System to maximize its ability to remain a world leader in research and instruction by restructuring the system as an independent public authority with greater flexibility to manage compensation, human resources, procurement, capital projects and other areas. Greater independence will enhance the system's potential to recruit top faculty and students, attract research funding and patent production, and better serve Wisconsin's students, parents, communities and businesses. Continue to make attending a University of Wisconsin institution affordable for Wisconsin's hardworking students and parents by extending the tuition freeze for an additional two years. Honor the State's promise to students by fully funding the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars program with an increased investment of $7 million over the biennium. 
Reduce the regulatory and fiscal burden on private for-­‐profit education entities by eliminating the Educational Approval Board. Retain consumer protections by providing the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection with broad authority to address complaints against both for-­‐profit and nonprofit private institutions of higher education. Strengthen compliance with federal regulations. The state’s budget documents are available at http://doa.wi.gov/Divisions/Budet-­‐and-­‐Finance/State-­‐
Budget-­‐Office The budget will be reviewed by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee and then the full Assembly and Senate. More information on the state budget can be found at UW-­‐Stout’s state budget Web page. Comments and suggestions about the budget can be sent via a budget feedback form.