Walker Wants To Keep UW Tuition Freeze For 2 Years
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker wants to extend a tuition freeze at University of Wisconsin System schools through the next state budget but isn't planning to hand them any additional funding.
Walker sent a letter to state agency heads July 25 saying he wants to maintain the freeze to keep UW schools affordable. He also warned them not to expect any additional money in the two-year spending plan. The only exceptions to that will be K-12 education and the Corrections, Health Services and Workforce Development departments.
"To build on our commitment to student success, we must extend our tuition freeze," Walker wrote. "This will make our universities affordable and accessible."
Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said in an email that the governor is considering additional funding for UW that would be tied to meeting certain performance benchmarks. He declined to elaborate, saying only that the governor is considering "options."
Without offsetting state aid, the freeze would mean two more years of fiscal headaches for UW schools. Republicans froze tuition in the 2013-15 state budget after word broke that the system was sitting on massive reserves while raising tuitions year after year. The GOP extended the freeze for another two years in the 2015-17 budget while also cutting $250 million in funding to the system. The freeze and the cuts have led to layoffs, consolidations, reduced advising and fewer course offerings, according to system summaries of the cut's effect.
System spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said a freeze without offsetting state aid could mean fewer classes and longer paths to graduation. System regents are set to consider their 2015-2017 budget request to Walker during a meeting later this month; Marquis said that request will include new initiatives to address student affordability.
"Should the Governor maintain a freeze, we hope he will fund our new initiatives so that college remains affordable for Wisconsin families," Marquis said in an email. She didn't elaborate on the initiatives, saying in a follow-up email that the request isn't ready yet.
Regent President Regina Millner didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The United Faculty and Academic Staff didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The union represents professors and staff at the state's flagship school, UW-Madison, where tuition has been locked at $9,273 for the last four years.
A message left for the Associated Students of Madison, the school's student government, also wasn't immediately returned.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said in an email that telling state agencies to expect zero growth in funding reflects a lack of direction for the state. As for the tuition freeze, Barca said the freeze helps students only if the state offsets it with aid.
State agencies must submit their budget requests to Walker by Sept. 15. The governor will present his executive budget early next year. The Legislature's finance committee will then revise the document before sending it to the full Senate and Assembly for votes. The spending plan then goes back to Walker, who can use his veto power to tweak the document to his liking. The entire process will likely wrap up early next summer.
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