Posted October 18, 2005

From a recent article in the Daily Telegram by

Julius E. Erlenbach

Chancellor

University of Wisconsin-Superior

After months of debate, Wisconsin's lawmakers are putting the final touches on the state budget. As the smoke clears, we can now tell with certainty how that budget affects the University of Wisconsin-Superior - the only public university in northern Wisconsin. Frankly, the news is not good. These cuts will adversely affect our service to students and to other people in our community and our region.

It's been well reported that the University of Wisconsin System and its 26 campuses are taking a tremendous cut in state support during the next biennial budget. UW-Superior's share of that cut is approximately $502,324 in state aid for both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 budget years. An additional one-time cut of $149,996 will be made to the campus budget during the 05-06 budget year.

The cuts in state support, coming after years of similar cuts, are drastically changing the meaning of the term "state university." When the University of Wisconsin System was formed in 1973, it received approximately 49 percent of its funding from state general purpose revenue. Following the latest budget cuts, the system receives approximately 27 percent of its budget from state GPR dollars - and that holds for UW-Superior as well.

Looking back over the past several months, we realize the cuts could have been even worse if not for northern Wisconsin's legislators - Sen. Bob Jauch, Rep. Frank Boyle, Rep. Gary Sherman and Rep. Mary Hubler - who fought so hard to protect our region's only public university. Gov. Jim Doyle also stepped in with a veto that averted even more cuts in state support to the UW System, and supported funding for important capital projects at UW-Superior.

Like many people, our regional legislators and the governor understand that UW-Superior is an important asset to Superior and northern Wisconsin. Each year it provides an affordable and easily accessible education to people of all ages from the northern third of Wisconsin. Students from across the state and from across the country come to UW-Superior for specific academic programs and because of our commitment to excellence in providing a challenging liberal arts education. The university is among the biggest employers in the city, with taxpaying employees who live throughout Douglas County and beyond. It assists businesses, offers continuing education for the region's workforce, and conducts important environmental research.

The latest state budget pushes UW-Superior past the point of being able to respond to budget cuts without seriously affecting service to students and the community. In recent years we have cut all we can - including jobs - from important support services. This means students, their parents, and people in the community will see a slower response as we work to meet their needs and fill their requests. Most disturbing is the realization that if more budget cuts are demanded in future biennia, UW-Superior will no longer be able to protect its key mission - educating students - from cuts.

Needless to say, UW-Superior and all its employees continue to work hard to provide excellent education and service to you. We ask your understanding as we struggle to provide services in face of these budget cuts. We also ask that you understand the cuts being made to UW-Superior affect - directly or indirectly - all of us who live in northern Wisconsin and work to see it prosper.