Doyle expected to sign budget Friday
Compromise legislation will invest $184 million in UW System
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Campus News
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is one in a series of reports analyzing Wisconsin's 2007-2009 biennial budget. For additional coverage of the state budget, see the Student Senate story on page 3.]
Students, UW System officials and area legislators are expressing their relief this week as Gov. Jim Doyle is expected to sign the state's 2007-2009 biennial budget.
The state Senate and Assembly passed a compromise budget Tuesday - a plan that many agree is friendly to higher education, with a net investment of $184 million for the UW System.
"We have a budget; that means we don't have to do any more emergency planning," said David Giroux, the System's executive director of communications, adding the one issue that legislators still need to resolve is creating a "competitive payment package" for System faculty and staff.
"There is an increasing realization that the university is an economic engine, and as an engine, it needs fuel," Giroux said. "This budget gives us a little bit more gas in our tank."
Resident undergraduate tuition went up 5 percent this fall and will go up at least 2 percent in fall 2008. The fee to apply to UW Schools will also rise by about $10, or about 25 percent. The System will also see an increase of $25 million over two years in new money for financial aid.
The budget will provide $2.9 million towards advanced science and technology programs at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout; $3.9 million to an expansion of nursing programs across the state, including Eau Claire; and $48.8 million for the Davies Center Building Project.
Senior Chris Nielson, chairman of the Davies Exploratory Committee, said with the approval of funding, the project will now enter the next stage, with a soon-to-be created design committee to hire a contractor and draw up plans for the new building.
After the university chooses a contractor, Nielson said the next step involves a two-year design process and another two years of construction.
Students, UW System officials and area legislators are expressing their relief this week as Gov. Jim Doyle is expected to sign the state's 2007-2009 biennial budget.
The state Senate and Assembly passed a compromise budget Tuesday - a plan that many agree is friendly to higher education, with a net investment of $184 million for the UW System.
"We have a budget; that means we don't have to do any more emergency planning," said David Giroux, the System's executive director of communications, adding the one issue that legislators still need to resolve is creating a "competitive payment package" for System faculty and staff.
"There is an increasing realization that the university is an economic engine, and as an engine, it needs fuel," Giroux said. "This budget gives us a little bit more gas in our tank."
Resident undergraduate tuition went up 5 percent this fall and will go up at least 2 percent in fall 2008. The fee to apply to UW Schools will also rise by about $10, or about 25 percent. The System will also see an increase of $25 million over two years in new money for financial aid.
The budget will provide $2.9 million towards advanced science and technology programs at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout; $3.9 million to an expansion of nursing programs across the state, including Eau Claire; and $48.8 million for the Davies Center Building Project.
Senior Chris Nielson, chairman of the Davies Exploratory Committee, said with the approval of funding, the project will now enter the next stage, with a soon-to-be created design committee to hire a contractor and draw up plans for the new building.
After the university chooses a contractor, Nielson said the next step involves a two-year design process and another two years of construction.
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