UW Milwaukee’s student body president believes his already lean university bears too much of the system’s $250 million budget cut. He argues for changing the cuts, and explains what people can do to help. We also examine a recent report that says large farms are behind water problems in Kewaunee County, and look at a proposal to make community college free in the United States.
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Budget Disproportionately Cuts Funding For UW-Milwaukee, Says Student President
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student president said his school is bearing too much of the UW-System’s $250 million budget cut, ultimately threatening the school’s core mission.
“Although everybody is hurting here, UW-Milwaukee is in a very unique position. Although we are viewed as one of the biggest campuses, we’re also one of the leanest,” said Mike Sportiello.
In a letter to state lawmakers, Sportiello pointed to a 2010 report by the Goldwater Institute which, he said, “shows quite clearly that UWM operates with more than two and a half times fewer administrative staff, half as many academic staff, and less than a third as much spending per student as the average research university — yet we produce exceptional graduates and globally impactful research.”
On Thursday, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a $6 billion budget that ratifies millions in cuts from the Legislature. UWM, the second-largest institution in the system, took nearly 14 percent of the $250 million cut.
The state budget also once again temporarily freezes tuition, which could compound problems for the campus: Sportiello said that UWM has significantly fewer sources of revenue, putting the school at a disadvantage.
“Most of our students come from in-state, so we don’t have out-of-state tuition, which comes with a little more money,” he said. “We don’t have any law schools or medical schools. We don’t have a largely significant donor pool right now. So when you look at the other sources of revenue that perhaps some other colleges and universities have in the system, we really don’t have those.”
Sportiello said the cuts will affect UW’s ability to produce top-notch research and to provide access to thousands of kids who may not have entered higher education otherwise.
But despite the decreased budget, he’s confident that school will succeed.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to deliver a top-notch product, because that’s what UW-Milwaukee does. But it will be perhaps less rigorous than it has in the past,” Sportiello said.
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Kewaunee County Dealing With Manure Problem, Report Says
According to a recent report, more than 30 percent of Kewaunee County’s water wells have been contaminated by manure from large farming operations. A coordinator of the report explains what happened and how it can be fixed.
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Democratic U.S. Senators Pursue Free Community College Legislation
Two Democratic lawmakers, including Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin, have introduced a bill that would pave the way for free community college in the United States. A higher ed reporter discusses the proposal, as well as individual efforts by states to pass similar plans.
Episode Credits
- Rob Ferrett Host
- Veronica Rueckert Host
- Amanda Magnus Producer
- Matt Oleson Producer
- Chris Malina Producer
- Mike Sportiello Guest
- Scott Dye Guest
- Paul Fain Guest
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