The UW Board of Regents has approved a budget request for $83 million in new spending. System President Kevin Reilly says the plan will help meet the goal of using UW institutions to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce.
The request will have to be approved by the Legislature next spring as part of the biennial budget.
The proposal includes nearly $22 million targeted at boosting undergraduate enrollment by about 5,900 students. It’s part of a larger goal of drastically increasing the number of graduates from the UW System.
Reilly says its something they also hope to achieve by spending less money. The budget request actually calls for a 25-percent reduction in the funding for new enrollees.
The budget proposal also includes funding to boost research capabilities and hiring capabilities.
Reilly says the proposal will require more investment from the state, but it’s something Wisconsin must pursue.