DearUW‐StevensPointStudentsandParents,
WearewritingtoyouasclassmatesandstudentbodyleadersattheUniversityof
Wisconsin‐StevensPoint.Asmanyofyouknow,WisconsinGovernorScottWalker
hasannouncedaUniversityofWisconsinSystembudgetproposalthatincludes
reductionsinstatesupport.
Wehearstudentsacrosscampus‐inclassrooms,residencehalls,walkingthrough
theDreyfusUniversityCenter‐discussingthepotentialbudgetcutsandtheimpact
theycouldhaveonouruniversity.
Underthebudgetproposal,UW‐StevensPointstandstolose25percentofourstate
support,thelargestpercentageofanyuniversityinthesystem.Asapublic
university,whichbyitsdefinitionissupportedinpartbythepublicthrough
governmentdollars,managingacutofthissizeischallenging.
UW‐StevensPoint’spotentialcutofstatefundingis$6.4millionintaxsupport,plus
$1.4millioninlegislativesegregatedfunds(whicharedifferentfromstudent
segregatedfees).Inaddition,thecreationofaUWSystemAuthoritywouldresultin
anadditionalreductionof$1.8millioninstatefundingforcoststocontinue,which
isprimarilyemployeebenefitsandcityservices.Tomanageapossiblecutofthis
magnitude,UW‐StevensPointishavingpreliminaryconversationsaboutpotential
cutstounitsanddepartments.Ourgoalistomaintainthequalityofinstructionour
universityoffers,whilecontinuingourabilitytoserveourcurrentstudents,raise
fundsandenrollnewstudents.
Manyofyouareaskingaboutthepotentialimpacttoyouoryourchild’seducation.
Iftheproposedbudgetpassesthelegislature,someclasssizesmayincrease.You
willlikelyseechangesinthewaysupportservicessuchasstudyabroad,career
counselingandadvisingaredelivered.Thehoursofthedininghallsmaybereduced.
Theremaybefeweropportunitiesforstudentresearchandemployment.Changesto
anyofthesestudentresources,servicesoropportunitiescouldhaveadirecteffect
onthecurrentstudenteducationalexperience.
Itisimportanttonoteanycutsdiscussedarejustthebeginningoftheconversation.
Thisisaveryfluidsituationthatmaychangeseveraltimesbeforethelegislature
andthegovernorfinalizethebudget;however,ourdiscussionsmustbegin
somewhere,andwemustprepare.Weimploreallstudentstobeinvolvedinthese
discussionsbycontactingtheirdeans,departmentchairs,otherUW‐StevensPoint
administratorsandtheStudentGovernmentAssociation.
TheuniversityhasestablishedaBudgetInformationWebpagewherenews,campus
communicationsandUWSystemcommunicationsareposted.Inaddition,the
budgetpagehaslinkstoWisconsinStateLegislatureinformation,includingoneto
helpyoufindyourlocallegislator.SGAhasalsocreatedabudgettabontheir
websiteasaresourceforstudents.
Parents,students,theuniversity,electedofficialsandthepeopleofWisconsinmust
worktogetherforthefutureofpubliceducationinthisgreatstatetoensurethat
youoryourchildwillcontinuetoreceivethehighestqualityeducationpossiblefor
anaffordableprice.AsinvestedmembersintheUW‐StevensPointcommunity,we
encourageyoutobeactivelyengagedintheseconversations.Ifyouhaveany
questionsorcomments,pleasecontactus.
Sincerely,
ChrisSlattery,StudentGovernmentAssociationPresident
KatieCronmiller,StudentGovernmentAssociationVicePresident
LaurenSeward,ResidenceHallAssociationPresident