UW System President Raymond Cross
For the second year in a row, tuition will be frozen this fall for in-state undergraduates attending the University of Wisconsin. However, the proposed UW budget does include a 3.6 percent hike in students’ segregated fees, plus an average 2.7 percent increase for room-and-board at the four-year campuses.
System President Ray Cross says the increases are needed to help deal with rising food costs, along with expenses for new and improved dormitories and facility maintenance. He said the higher fees would cover student programs, major projects, and increases in compensation.
All told, the president has given the Board of Regents a $6.1 billion budget to run the 26 campuses for the next school year, a 1.7 percent increase over the previous year. The Regents will review the budget on Thursday, when they meet at UW-Milwaukee.
The tuition freeze was ordered by the governor and Legislature a year ago, after an audit discovered large cash reserves at the various campuses. The budget also calls for a 15 percent drop in the cash balances.