© 2024 Milwaukee Public Media is a service of UW-Milwaukee's College of Letters & Science
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UW Board of Regents to Consider Request for $95 million Increase in State Funding

The University of Wisconsin System says it needs more money in the next biennial state budget.

System officials want an additional $95.2 million dollars, saying it would help fund the Talent Development Initiative, and maintain the quality of academic instruction and research.

The Talent Development Initiative is a new program, meant to align UW education and research with the needs of state employers. It has several components, including a focus on education for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs.

The UW System says it needs more money from taxpayers, because a Republican-imposed tuition freeze has created “insufficient balances to fund these costs” at a number of campuses.

The UW Board of Regents is expected to vote Thursday on whether to send Gov. Scott Walker the funding request. Walker previously told state agencies they would not see an increase in funding in the next two-year budget.

Ann-Elise is WUWM's news director.