The University of Wisconsin System leadership praised Gov. Tony Evers 2021-2023 budget proposed last week, as it nearly doubled the already-ambitious initial request to help UW pull out of its financial deficit.
Category: Higher Education/System
UW, lawmakers look to comply with Trump Title IX changes; Biden expected to have his own
Wisconsin lawmakers must implement permanent rule changes by May to meet federal guidance on university cases of sexual assault and misconduct, though the provisions are not likely to last long under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Mary Hoeft: Don’t combine 2-year UW campuses with technical colleges
As a professor for 49 years, at one of the UW System’s two-year campuses, I would like to answer President Thompson’s question with a resounding NO! Please, leave the two-year colleges alone! Give our new relationship with the four-year campuses time to grow.
Budget breakdown: What is in Gov. Tony Evers’ proposals for the UW?
Gov. Tony Evers delivered his $91 billion budget proposal last week, including $191 million in new investments in the University of Wisconsin System over the 2021-2023 biennium.
Evers announces 4 new locations for COVID-19 community-based vaccination clinics, including one in Racine County
Noted: According to the announcement, the clinics will collaborate with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare, the University of Wisconsin System, local public health departments and other local partners.
UW System Chancellors react to in-person plans for Fall semester
Chancellors from UW-River Falls, UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire have pledged to plan for a fall semester with in-person classes and “a traditional college experience.”
Tony Evers seeks $2.4 billion for building projects — nearly half for UW campuses
Gov. Tony Evers wants to spend $2.4 billion on building upgrades across Wisconsin — nearly half of which would be spent on University of Wisconsin System campuses.
Thompson lauds Evers’ $190 million hike for UW System
Gov. Tony Evers proposed an increase of $190 million in investments in the University of Wisconsin System over the 2021-2023 biennium as part of a budget proposal delivered this week that prioritized funding for technical colleges and college access and affordability.
Gov. Tony Evers wants $2.4 billion for state building projects, nearly half for UW System
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers wants to spend about $2.4 billion over the next two years on state building projects, with about $1 billion of the proposed money going to the University of Wisconsin System.
Branch campuses need time to work — Mary Hoeft
Letter to the editor: University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson has an idea for Wisconsin’s outstanding two-year universities. He’s wondering if they should be combined with the state’s technical school system. As a professor at one of UW System’s two-year campus for 49 years, I would like to answer President Thompson’s question with a resounding “no.”
Tech colleges may help UW campuses — John Poole
Letter to the editor: The campuses have been severely underutilized for the past several years, ever since the concept of regionalization was implemented. Many thought returning to our roots (Richland started as a branch of Platteville) would be the saving grace for the campus, but that hasn’t proven to be the case.
3 big ideas must stay in Wisconsin’s budget
But three of the governor’s major spending priorities deserve broad bipartisan support:
- Investing in our universities, especially UW-Madison.
- Encouraging more private investment in promising technology startups across the state.
- Expanding access to high-speed internet in rural areas.
Thompson wants 75% of fall UW classes in-person
Students at UW-Madison have to prove they’re COVID-negative before entering buildings and must get tested every three days. University officials even wrote to students this week, in part, “If you miss multiple tests, or if there is a pattern of missing tests, sanctions could be applied.”
Tommy Thompson: 75 Percent Of UW’s Fall Classes Will Be In-Person
At least three-fourths of all University of Wisconsin System classes will be in-person this fall according to system interim President Tommy Thompson.
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out, Thompson sets goal of 75% of courses in person on UW campuses in fall
University of Wisconsin System interim President Tommy Thompson told campus chancellors to aim to have at least 75% of their courses in person next fall, with the hope that COVID-19 vaccines will allow a return to some normalcy.
UW System President announces goal for 75% classes to be in-person for fall semester
’It is time for us to plan to resume as much of an in-person campus experience as possible this fall,’ UW System President says.
UW System plans at least 75% in-person classes next fall, back to pre-pandemic levels
Thompson announced the plan to chancellors this week and said that they were all “very supportive” of the new goal. Given that about 20% of courses were taught virtually even prior to the pandemic, Thompson said this goal will bring System schools back to previous levels of in-person education while maintaining the benefits of online courses.
UW campuses planning for fall semester to be ‘as close to normal as possible’
At UW-Madison, 82% of classes this spring semester are fully online, according to System data. That’s up from 64% of classes delivered remotely last fall.
New public initiative to document Wisconsin Latinx history involves five UW campuses
’Every day we hear the lies, myths and negative stereotypes…It is up to us to replace these with historical facts,’ WLHC founder says.
Journal Times editorial: UW System initiative a pipeline for the future
It’s a challenging time for colleges and universities, and for the students who want to attend those institutions to prepare for life in a rapidly changing world.
“Especially now, with COVID, we are seeing that (high school) seniors especially are having a difficult time getting prepared for college,” UW-System President Tommy Thompson said at a Feb. 3 press conference announcing plans for a new precollege pipeline initiative.
UW Badger Precollege programs prepare young students for higher ed
A new college program at the University of Wisconsin is challenging curiosity and preparing students for the future; aimed at giving young students exposure and pushing them to their potential during the coronavirus pandemic.
University Merger Talks On The Rise
Noted: Also last week, Tommy Thompson, the interim president of the University of Wisconsin (UW) system, floated the idea that the University’s 13 branch campuses be consolidated with the 16 technical schools in the Wisconsin Technical College System.
In 2018, the UW System went through a restructuring proposal that aligned 13 two-year UW Colleges campuses with its comprehensive universities. These schools are now called branch campuses. They offer two-year degrees aimed largely at students who may eventually want to transfer to a four-year university to earn a degree.
What’s the Best Business School? For This Year’s M.B.A. Rankings, It’s Not Who You Think.
Noted: The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s business school jumped 27 spots this year to No. 19 in the Economist’s ranking, which could put the program on the radar of prospective students, said Assistant Dean Blair Sanford.
“To be top 20 in a respected ranking, that has some extra clout for us,” she said.
UW-Platteville to build $3.4 million solar project; will be largest state-owned solar array
UW-Platteville has received approval to build what will be Wisconsin’s largest state-owned solar array.
UW System looking at consolidation between UW branch campuses, technical colleges
“Tommy’s perfect for this job,” he said. “He’s an interim so he’s got nothing to lose. But he also doesn’t see himself as a caretaker there to keep the plants watered. He’s got the prestige and political ability to make changes. He’ll make decisions for the good of the System that a new president may be unwilling to do.”
Hundreds of acceptance letters mistakenly sent by UW-Oshkosh
Four hundred of those letters went out last weekend, according to WBAY-TV.UW-Oshkosh says most of the letters went to students with incomplete applications. The school says the mistake was due to a glitch with a software update.
UW System to get $69 million for renovation projects throughout state
The State of Wisconsin Building Commission approved a $69 million package for UW-System building renovation projects, including $12.2 million in funding for UW-Madison building projects Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday.
UW System to launch pre-college initiative for high school students
he UW System wants to encourage Wisconsin high school students to consider a future in higher education.The system will launch a pipeline program to help guide high school students in preparing for, applying to and enrolling in one of its 13 universities.
Bice: How would you spend $88 million? Diane Hendricks and Uihleins gave it away in campaign donations in two years
There’s a lot you could do with $88 million.
You could, say, pay for full scholarships for 3,200 students to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for one year.
U.S. Education Department opens investigation into UW-Milwaukee over foreign funding
UW-Milwaukee has “apparently never filed” a report detailing foreign gifts and contracts — a requirement under the law — according to a Jan. 15 letter the department sent to Chancellor Mark Mone informing him of the agency’s “preliminary inquiry.”
UW System asking for 3.5% operating budget increase
UW System President Tommy Thompson is continuing to push for an increase in the UW System’s operating budget ahead of the governor’s budget address next week.
Gov. Tony Evers appoints Democratic donor to UW Board of Regents
Evers’ office announced Monday he has appointed John W. Miller to the UW Board of Regents, an 18-member board that passes policies and rules for the University of Wisconsin System campuses.
Paul Jadin: UW, broadband, inclusion are key to Madison region’s success
First, education is king. Don’t ever allow UW-Madison to be anything but a premier, world-class institution. State and private dollars invested now will be leveraged considerably by virtue of the fact that most of the federal investment will go to expanded research at universities such as UW.
John Miller appointed to UW Board of Regents
Miller attended the University of Wisconsin Law School and graduated with his degree in 2006. He previously worked as a congressional staffer for Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District and became president and CEO of his family’s company, Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc. in 2008.
Democrats press Biden to cancel $50K in student loan debt
Quoted: “While the majority of people have debt loads we wouldn’t consider to be outrageous, there are a lot of people exiting higher education and carrying pretty significant burdens into the workforce,” said Cliff Robb, a consumer science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
‘Financial disaster’: UW System campuses show $317.7 million in lost revenue, added expenses from COVID-19 in 2020
New figures show the University of Wisconsin System saw $317.7 million in lost revenue and additional expenses between March and December as universities continue to weather the widespread budgetary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UW System adopts universal medical withdrawal policy
A new policy taking effect this fall will make it easier for students in the University of Wisconsin System to suspend their coursework without academic or financial penalty under certain medical circumstances.
Facing ‘financial disaster’ from COVID-19, UW System pushes for borrowing ability
COVID-19 has caused the “biggest financial disaster” the university has ever seen, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said. Through federal stimulus money, furloughs, pay cuts for leadership, travel restrictions and targeted budget cuts to different units, Blank said she’s optimistic the financial gap can be resolved over the next two years. But she also renewed her case for giving the university borrowing authority.
Five UW System schools to put higher education counselors into targeted high schools to help guide students to college
In a novel initiative to address a series of challenges on Wisconsin campuses — projections of declining enrollment, recruiting and supporting students of color and the damage of COVID-19 — five universities are putting counselors in targeted high schools to help guide students to higher education.
UW students working at COVID-19 vaccination sites can receive $500 tuition credit
University of Wisconsin students assisting at COVID-19 vaccination sites this semester can receive $500 in tuition credit for their work, the UW System announced Friday.
‘They have the skills and are ready to go’: College health care students step up to help massive COVID-19 vaccine effort.
Quoted: “Think about it — our hospitals and clinics are near capacity because we have a heavy caseload of COVID right now,” said Mary Hayney, a pharmacy professor at UW-Madison.
“We need to find other people to … administer vaccines to the public. So students are a resource that can be tapped to do that because they have the skills and are ready to go,” she said.
UW System to offer tuition credit to students who work at vaccination sites
“UW nursing and pharmacy students are needed on the front lines of vaccination activities throughout Wisconsin,” Thompson said in a news release. “This $500 tuition credit will assist our students in serving in clinical, campus, Tribal, and other community settings. UW nursing and pharmacy students exemplify the new Wisconsin Idea – where there’s a challenge, the UW System is part of the solution.”
Nursing and pharmacy students will receive tuition credit for COVID-19 vaccination site help
A $500 tuition credit is now being extended to UW system nursing and pharamacy students working at coronavirus vaccination sites.
A Different Kind of Student Feedback
Noted: Lewis, an assistant professor of mathematics at George Washington University, decided to hire Rai before he had any idea that the pandemic would push the course online. He had gotten the idea from Harry Brighouse, a philosophy professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison who has written about having a student worker critique his teaching. The move online meant Lewis’s discussions with Rai covered different ground than the professor had initially imagined — he thought they’d talk more about issues like how much class time he should spend on particular topics. But it ended up being an especially good semester in which to have a thoughtful observer.
Pressure grows on Biden for more ambitious student loan forgiveness
Noted: Annika Kersten Wellman, a senior studying nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says she believes that the administration should at least go for a middle ground of $30,000 in federal loan forgiveness per borrower. That amount would be closer to the national average of student debt and “will help correct the inequity that is student loan debt,” she said.
Wellman, who said she was lucky that she didn’t have to take out loans for her education, supports student loan forgiveness as a way to address the disproportionate burden of education debt on people of color, something that Warren and Schumer have emphasized in their support of student loan forgiveness.
UW Systems President Tommy Thompson plays a big role in WIAC sports resumption
This season was contingent on securing funds for weekly testing. UW Systems Interim President Tommy Thompson raised money to make it happen.
Assembly Republicans to take up resolution that would make Wisconsin one of few states without face mask mandate
“President Thompson is and has been focused on strategies to combat COVID-19 on UW System campuses given their inherent congregate settings,” Mark Pitsch, spokesman for the UW System, said. “He has championed a culture of responsibility that includes wearing a mask, social distancing, hand washing and a robust testing strategy.”
Tommy Thompson: Lawmakers said UW tuition increase would not have GOP support
In a panel discussion Monday evening, UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson said he didn’t pursue a plan to lift the ongoing freeze on in-state undergraduate tuition because Republican legislative leaders told him it could jeopardize the system’s budget request.
One more campaign: Tommy Thompson leads the UW System at a critical time
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, then-Secretary Tommy Thompson and his staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established an operations center near his office to better coordinate responses to emergency crises.
Thompson says GOP told him no UW tuition increase
He said Republicans told him if he asked for a tuition increase the system’s budget wouldn’t go anywhere.
University of Wisconsin Regent José Delgado remembered for his charm and grace
Delgado joined the board in 2014, where he was “a champion of higher education as a way to improve lives and communities in Wisconsin while holding the UW System accountable,” Board of Regents President Andrew Petersen and Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson said in a joint statement Monday.
ATC founder, UW Regent Jose Delgado dies
University of Wisconsin Regent José Delgado died Sunday. In addition to his service in higher education, Delgado was a lifelong engineer and, most notably, founder of American Transmission Company.
UW System expands community COVID-19 testing sites into spring
“We thank the federal government for their confidence in us, and we’re pleased that our university sites can continue to be used in the fight against this insidious disease,” Thompson said. “Where there’s a problem, I want the UW System here to help.”
UW System, Gov. Evers mourn passing of Regent José Delgado
UW System President Tommy Thompson and Regent President Andrew Petersen announced Delgado’s passing in a statement Monday.
UW System Board of Regents member dies, remembered as ‘champion of higher education’
Interim System President Tommy Thompson and board president Drew Petersen announced Monday that Regent José Delgado died Sunday. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker appointed Delgado to the 18-member board in 2014. His term was set to expire in May.
UW system announces passing of Regent José Delgado
“It is with great sadness that we learned our friend and colleague José Delgado passed away yesterday.”
UW System extends COVID-19 surge testing with additional 140,000 rapid, PCR tests
COVID-19 surge testing sites at University of Wisconsin System campuses will be extended, UW System President Tommy Thompson announced Monday.
Fewer Wisconsin high school seniors seek financial aid, raising concerns about college plans
Fewer Wisconsin high school students are filing for federal financial aid this school year in what education experts fear is a sign that some students are putting college plans for fall on hold, or abandoning those dreams altogether.
Tony Evers blasts Trump administration over COVID-19 vaccines, announces mobile vaccination teams
Guard members, along with pharmacy or nursing student volunteers through the University of Wisconsin System, will staff the mobile teams. UW System announced Friday it is expanding a $500 tuition credit for students who volunteer to administer vaccinations.
UW students, National Guard troops to staff mobile vaccination clinics
UW students who volunteer to help administer vaccinations will be eligible to receive a $500 tuition credit.