MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The budget plan Gov. Scott Walker announced Tuesday would cut University of Wisconsin tuition by 5 percent at all campuses, allow students to opt out of paying some fees and grant the university's request for millions in additional state aid.
The two-year spending plan marks an about face for Walker after he and the Republican-controlled Legislature cut $250 million from the university in the last budget and froze tuition for two years. Walker's call for a tuition cut, along with fulfilling the university's request for $42.5 million more in funding, comes as he's expected to seek a third term in 2018.
Walker's budget would continue the tuition freeze for a year and apply the 5 percent cut in the second year. The governor's office said in a news release the cut would save students an average of $360 a year. Walker would backfill the lost revenue with a $35 million block grant that will be allocated to campuses according to how much tuition each school loses.
"Our investment today ensures student success by making college even more affordable, providing greater opportunities for students to earn their degree, and helping to bridge the gap between higher education and our workforce," Walker said in a news release.
UW System spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis didn't immediately return a voicemail message Tuesday.
Walker announced he would cut tuition and backfill the lost revenue during his State of the State address last month but didn't say by how deep the cut might be or how much money he would devote to filling the hole.
The plan got a cool reception from Walker's fellow Republicans. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said he would rather see money go toward financial aid for poor students. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fizgerald said Monday that he hasn't seen "a lot of excitement" for the cut and that he's more concerned about rising student fees.
The governor's budget also calls for allowing students to opt out of paying fees that support student activities and organizations. Walker said in a news release the move will give students a say in what they want to support. Students would still be on the hook for fees that support university commitments and operational costs, however.
The $42.5 million in additional aid will be contingent on meeting performance rankings related to improving affordability, enhancing work readiness, ensuring student success in the workforce, administrative efficiency and two other criteria the Board of Regents will develop. Each institution will be required to publish a performance report card.
It's not clear how many of Walker's proposals will survive into the final budget. He plans to formally introduce the budget on Wednesday. The document will then go to the Legislature's finance committee, which will spend the spring revising it before lawmakers give it a final vote in June or July. Walker can then use his extensive veto powers to restore the document to his liking before he signs it into law.
Here's a look at some of the other UW System-related items in the spending plan:
- Require the system to provide pathways for earning degrees in three years, a move Walker a move Walker's office says could save students up to $25,000 by reducing tuition and increasing earnings.
- $700,000 in financial aid for students taking Flex Option courses. The Flex Option program allows nontraditional students to earn college credit by demonstrating real-life knowledge through online tests.
- Five new Flex Option programs in high demand fields, including a program to help K-12 teacher aides become teachers and nursing assistants become registered nurses.
- Doubling the number of credits that transfer between the Wisconsin Technical College System and UW System schools. Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, at least 60 core general education credits would transfer.
- $100,000 to support Alzheimer's research at UW-Madison.
- $200,000 to expand the Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance program. The program, administered by UW-Madison, provides financial support to rural hospitals, residency programs and health systems.
- Require regents to establish policies for monitoring faculty and academic staff teaching workloads. The policies would have to reward staffers who teach more than the standard load.
- Require system students to get an internship or other work experience before graduation. The regents would have to develop policies to determine whether a student has met the requirement.
