Dive Brief:
- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has announced plans to cut $300 million from the University of Wisconsin System over two years, or 13% of the state’s higher education budget.
- The cuts would be the largest ever for the 26-campus system, Inside Higher Ed reports.
- State universities would have more autonomy under the potential Republican presidential candidate’s plan, which would likely lead to tuition increases after a tuition freeze expires in two years.
Dive Insight:
If Walker’s plan is approved, it would fast-track a trend that state-funded colleges and universities have been facing around the country: less revenue from the state leads to tuition increases, pressure to recruit more higher-paying out-of-state students, program cuts, and campus consolidations. The governor said his plan protects taxpayers while making the university system stronger in the future.
Under Walker’s plan, tenure and faculty governance — representing key job protections for faculty members — would be written out of state code, though universities would likely adopt them. But schools would also be allowed to use merit pay with employees, which isn’t currently allowed. Universities would also be allowed to make spending decisions without adhering to state purchasing requirements.
