2009 Advocacy Forum
Chancellor Biddy Martin addressing the 2008 Alumni for Wisconsin Forum
Alumni advocates gathered together and listened to presentations given by UW Chancellor Biddy Martin, Vice Chancellor of University Relations Vince Sweeney, Representative Mark Pocan, and Professor Katherine Cramer Walsh.
The following link describes the topics discussed at this year's Advocacy Forum.
Alumni for Wisconsin Advocacy Forum 2009
Make Your Voice Heard
You can use this helpful link to contact your legislators by e-mail.
Contact your state or federal legislator.
We encourage you to gather some friends and neighbors to meet in person with your legislators to discuss the issues that you feel are most important to UW and to the state. Please contact Mike Fahey at (608) 263-2645 or mfahey@waastaff.com if you are interested in setting up a legislator meeting in your area.
2009-2011 Wisconsin State Budget: Opportunities and Challenges
The 2009-2011 Wisconsin State Budget signed into law by Governor Doyle has some important results for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Some of the results will make a positive impact, including collective bargaining rights for UW faculty and staff, a fund totaling $15 million over two years for recruitment and retention of top faculty, and domestic partner benefits for UW employees. Other initiatives which will benefit the university include: $8.2 million in start-up funding for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, restored funding for the Bioenergy Initiative, and $2 million for the Wisconsin Genomics Initiative, a partnership between the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Medical College of Wisconsin, UW-Milwaukee, and the Marshfield Clinic.
The final state budget does include provisions which will pose some challenges for the university. The budget calls for $100 million in base budget reductions from 2009-2011. Of this, UW-Madison's share is $18.5 million per year. Additionally, the budget includes a 1 percent across-the-board reduction, which amounts to $5.7 million per year for UW-Madison. Most notably, the state budget ordered a state employee furlough of 16 days which results in a $13.9 million per year reduction for the university. For more information on how the UW plans to address the mandatory furloughs, click here.
In the wake of an economic downturn, this 2009-2011 state budget asked for many sacrifices. However, it also included some important provisions that indicate the legislature recognizes the impact higher education has on our state. Thank you to all of you who contacted your legislators to remind them how important the University of Wisconsin-Madison is to you, and to Wisconsin's future.
Legislative Fiscal Bureau 2009-2011 Budget Summary Information
Some of the results will make a positive impact, including collective bargaining rights for UW faculty and staff, a fund totaling $15 million over two years for recruitment and retention of top faculty, and domestic partner benefits for UW employees. Other initiatives which will benefit the university include: $8.2 million in start-up funding for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, restored funding for the Bioenergy Initiative, and $2 million for the Wisconsin Genomics Initiative, a partnership between the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Medical College of Wisconsin, UW-Milwaukee, and the Marshfield Clinic.
The final state budget does include provisions which will pose some challenges for the university. The budget calls for $100 million in base budget reductions from 2009-2011. Of this, UW-Madison's share is $18.5 million per year. Additionally, the budget includes a 1 percent across-the-board reduction, which amounts to $5.7 million per year for UW-Madison. Most notably, the state budget ordered a state employee furlough of 16 days which results in a $13.9 million per year reduction for the university. For more information on how the UW plans to address the mandatory furloughs, click here.
In the wake of an economic downturn, this 2009-2011 state budget asked for many sacrifices. However, it also included some important provisions that indicate the legislature recognizes the impact higher education has on our state. Thank you to all of you who contacted your legislators to remind them how important the University of Wisconsin-Madison is to you, and to Wisconsin's future.
Legislative Fiscal Bureau 2009-2011 Budget Summary Information
State Support for Higher Education
Wisconsin has lagged behind every other state but one in providing funding increases for higher education over the past five years, according to a report this week by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
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Events
- UW Student-Athlete Career Night - February 15
Jobs. Education. Healthcare. As a Wisconsin citizen, these issues are important to you. Learn more about the University of Wisconsin-Madison's leadership role in the areas you think are most essential to our state.
Sign Our Online Petition
Show the leadership in the state legislature that you care about your university. Sign our petition asking the Governor, the Senate President and the Assembly Speaker to make funding for the University of Wisconsin a top priority in upcoming budget negotiations.