Eau Claire (Press Release) - The
following is a statement from UW-Eau Claire Interim Chancellor Gilles Bousquet
regarding Gov. Scott Walker's proposed 2013-15 biennial state budget, which
calls for more than $181 million in new taxpayer investments in the UW System.
"Governor Walker's
budget provides meaningful reinvestment in the UW System, especially in terms
of expanding talent and economic development efforts. As a liberal arts-based
institution, UW-Eau Claire plays a key role in today's talent development and
tomorrow's job creation.
"UW-Eau Claire is
committed to working with our higher education, economic development and
business partners in western Wisconsin and beyond to provide graduates with the
skills necessary to succeed in today's highly interconnected and constantly
changing world.
"At UW-Eau Claire,
we are exploring ways to expand and enhance our current talent and economic
development efforts through closer collaboration with our community, the region
and state.In fact, today we are hosting on campus a gathering of a core group
of higher education, business and economic development executives to brainstorm
new ways we can coordinate resources and expertise to identify existing and
emerging skills gaps and take action to address them.
"After a decade of
budget cuts, I am delighted that the state's reinvestment in higher education
will help us keep higher education affordable in Wisconsin.
"I also am
extremely appreciative that the Governor's budget provides language to grant
the UW System Board of Regents flexibility, including the authority to
establish compensation plans for UW employees, which remains one of our highest
priorities. I am impressed on a daily basis by the extraordinary work that our
faculty and staff do with our students.
"UW-Eau Claire
looks forward to joining UW System in working with state legislators from both
parties to advance Gov. Walker's budget. I want to thank our local legislators
for their strong and continuing support of UW-Eau Claire, and I look forward to
together positioning western Wisconsin for economic growth and
prosperity."
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Menomonie (UW-Stout Press Release) - The new state budget
proposed Wednesday night by Gov. Scott Walker is an improvement over the
current document, but important details still aren't know about one crucial
area, University of Wisconsin-Stout Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen said today.
"It is obvious that this budget is much
more favorable to the UW System than the 2011-13 budget, which imposed $315
million in cuts for the system over two years," Sorensen said. Walker has said
his proposal includes about $181 million in additional spending in all areas
for the UW System.
Sorensen said the governor still hasn't
released details of his plan to increase the wages of state employees,
including UW System faculty and staff.
"My top priority for 2013-15 remains
securing adequate compensation for our faculty and staff, given that we have
gone over four years without a pay raise and had to endure furloughs and higher
health care and retirement costs," Sorensen said. "The true value of this
budget for UW-Stout and the rest of the UW System will not be known until we
see the details of what the governor is proposing for wage adjustments."
