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NanoSTEM funding may cause rise in tuition
UW-Eau Claire partners with Stout, CVTC to expand use of nanotechnology in the area
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: Campus News
Some proposed programs will benefit "Wisconsin's children and grandchildren," UW System officials said at the March 8 Board of Regents meeting - an action Regents President David Walsh said might mean an increase in tuition.
"We're going to have some tough decisions down the road," Walsh said.
UW System President Kevin Reilly said the System has received many letters supporting UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout's NanoSTEM initiative, including one from Menomonie Mayor Dennis Kropp, who cited the program as being essential to "sustain a vibrant economy in this state."
Eau Claire's Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andy Phillips said he has been working closely with Doug Duhnam, assistant professor of physics, and Marc McEllistrem, assistant professor of chemistry, to write a $3 to $4 million request to fund the project.
The initiative is a partnership among Eau Claire, Stout and Chippewa Valley Technical College designed to expand the use of nanotechnology in the Chippewa Valley, Phillips said.
"Almost all of the legislators I've spoken with are in support of the initiative," Phillips said in a Feb. 1 interview with The Spectator. "Those who are not are concerned with balancing the budget."
In a Jan. 30 interview with The Spectator, state Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, said he supports the initiative, first proposed by Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, but now said he is concerned that the governor's proposed $225 million to the UW System, along with many other additions to the budget, will cause problems for taxpayers.
"We can balance this budget and fund our top priorities without taxing folks out of house and home," Moulton said Friday in a press release. "Assembly Republicans will stand up for putting some commonsense restraint back into state government."
Phillips said the new programs would not only benefit science majors by creating a new material science major, but also students taking general education courses in the science category.
"We're going to have some tough decisions down the road," Walsh said.
UW System President Kevin Reilly said the System has received many letters supporting UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout's NanoSTEM initiative, including one from Menomonie Mayor Dennis Kropp, who cited the program as being essential to "sustain a vibrant economy in this state."
Eau Claire's Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andy Phillips said he has been working closely with Doug Duhnam, assistant professor of physics, and Marc McEllistrem, assistant professor of chemistry, to write a $3 to $4 million request to fund the project.
The initiative is a partnership among Eau Claire, Stout and Chippewa Valley Technical College designed to expand the use of nanotechnology in the Chippewa Valley, Phillips said.
"Almost all of the legislators I've spoken with are in support of the initiative," Phillips said in a Feb. 1 interview with The Spectator. "Those who are not are concerned with balancing the budget."
In a Jan. 30 interview with The Spectator, state Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, said he supports the initiative, first proposed by Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, but now said he is concerned that the governor's proposed $225 million to the UW System, along with many other additions to the budget, will cause problems for taxpayers.
"We can balance this budget and fund our top priorities without taxing folks out of house and home," Moulton said Friday in a press release. "Assembly Republicans will stand up for putting some commonsense restraint back into state government."
Phillips said the new programs would not only benefit science majors by creating a new material science major, but also students taking general education courses in the science category.
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