There have been previous forums about the budget, however none so important that the sound of cameras were clicking was underneath almost every word spoken. The conversations about the budget have been nonstop since November, and now Ray Cross, the president of the UW System has paid a visit to UW-L in order to continue to clear up the murk that has come along with the initial announcement of the budget.
“I cannot believe how higher education has been devalued in the last twenty years.” Cross stated with disappointment. This was a popular sentiment through the nearly filled lecture hall. Many were upset about not only this budget, but past ones as well. With all of the budget cuts that have been made to schools in Wisconsin over the years, it seems like the state may be using its previous investment and belief in education, as one faculty member in attendance stated.
“We have to learn to do less with less.” Cross admitted, though he was not much happier about the situation as anybody in attendance.
Because of the budget cuts the state makes, the schools are forced to raise their tuition and other prices in order to fill in the space left. And as was discussed, there doesn’t seem to be much money in reserve.
“As our price has gone up to the public, they’re thinking, is it worth it?”
Unfortunately at the time, Cross did not have any answers to how to change the public’s perception of the direction the UW System seems to be going, however he did state that the school board is interested in pursuing that question, as well as a possible marketing strategy.
Cross was in hopes that measures would never come to this, however there was a short mention of actually closing campuses. If one campus closed, more money problems would come to the system, as the payments would only have to be spread out and fulfilled among the other campuses that are apart of the system. Though closing an entire campus may be a drastic measure which hopefully the system never has to do, there is also the frightening possibility that some programs and certain majors will have to be stopped.
Cross said the projected revenues of the budget will be announced sometime this coming week, and he is hoping for a positive outlook in finding out what the exact cuts will be. He also emphasized that the way for the system to fight for what the campuses need is to become allies with both sides of the legislature.