All in Wisconsin tour event- Monday, September 9 at UW-Parkside

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The “All in Wisconsin” tour showcasing the incredible value every University of Wisconsin System campus provides for students, families, and taxpayers, will kick of on Monday, September 9 at UW-Parkside. The day-long event will involve meetings with business and community leaders, direct engagement with students, and media opportunities to promote the benefits and value of each campus to its region. Currently, there are eight events scheduled through early December.  The dates are as follows:

  • UW-Parkside, Monday, September 9
  • UW-River Falls, Thursday, September 12
  • UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, October 2
  • UW-Superior, Thursday, October 10
  • UW-Oshkosh, Tuesday, October 22
  • UW-Stevens Point, Wednesday, October 30
  • UW-Eau Claire & UW-Stout, Wednesday, November 20
  • UW-Whitewater, Thursday, December 5

As part of this outreach effort, we are excited to share success stories and learn about how the UW System can do better. We believe the value of our public universities is more important than ever and engaging the public on these issues is critical to the state’s success.

Joint Legislative Audit Committee Public Hearing- Tuesday, September 10

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The Joint Legislative Audit Committee will hold a public hearing on the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau’s audit of the University of Wisconsin System (report 19-5) and related follow-up information at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, in Room 411 South of the State Capitol. See public hearing notice below. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee will also hold a public hearing and executive session to consider a proposed audit of information technology needs assessment and procurement. Because this proposed audit will involve the University of Wisconsin System and its institutions, President Cross and appropriate staff members will be present at the hearing to respond to questions from committee members.

“Smart Cities-Smart Futures” Competition Announcement

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The submission portal for the 2019-20 Foxconn “Smart Cities-Smart Futures” competition will be available starting Monday, September 9. This marks the second year for this innovative program, where students, staff and faculty from Wisconsin’s higher education intuitions are eligible to submit innovative concepts and plans for creating smart cities of the future. Up to 100 winners will receive the Award and will be eligible to compete in Round 2. Submission portal for Round 2 applications will be available starting Thursday, November 7.

New changes for this year include:

  • Improved competition structure with greater emphasis on broad inclusivity and creating investment-ready concepts and plans.
  • Expansion of Core Partner Team
    • The organization SCORE will be available to provide Executive level mentorship for Round One winners to aid with advancing their business plans in subsequent rounds
  • Optimizing the time required by judges and partners.
  • An Engaging College Road Show to visit universities and promote the competition (invitations to universities, schools or programs are welcomed)

More information and formal announcement can be found on the Smart Cities-Smart Futures website.

Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families Public Hearing- August 27, 2019

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The Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. See public hearing notice for more information on Board of Regents confirmations and Senate Bill 117 (athlete agents act) and Senate Bill 142 (tuition benefits for student veterans). For more information on Senate Bill 42 (UW research contracts) and Senate Bill 55 (minority teacher loan program), please see Executive Session notice.

Rep. Shankland/Sen. Hansen bill package- bills introduced in Senate

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Rep. Katrina Shankland, (D-Stevens Point), and Sen. Dave Hansen, (D-Green Bay), introduced a series of bills that affect the UW System. The bills were formally introduced in the Senate and have been assigned as follows:

  • SB-355  UW Blue Ribbon Commission: This bill creates a Blue Ribbon Commission in the University of Wisconsin System. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
  • SB-356  UW Funding: This bill provides additional funding to the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
  • SB-357  UW Tuition Freezes: This bill requires that all future tuition freezes for the University of Wisconsin System are funded. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
  • SB-359  UW Student Grants: This bill funds Wisconsin grants for University of Wisconsin System students and technical college students and makes an appropriation. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
  • SB-360  Tuition Remission: This bill remits UW undergraduate student teachers’ academic fees for the semester they are student teaching. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.
  • SB-358 Tech College Aid: This bill is included as part of the package but does not affect the UW System. It provides additional funding  funding for the technical college system. Referred to the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, and Children and Families.

Public Support Grows for Free College and Increased Funding for Schools

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The 13th annual Education Next survey of public opinion, administered in May 2019, highlights how provocative ideas regarding education are resonating with the American public.

Polls Indicate a Growing Partisan Divide in Views of Higher Education

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Most Americans agree a college degree is important in helping a young person succeed in the world. According to the Pew Research Center, most college graduates themselves say their degree helped them grow and develop the skills they needed for the workplace. There are clear and growing economic advantages for college graduates versus those without a degree. Even so, there is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction among the public about the role colleges play in society, whether they cite the cost of tuition or the perception that faculty bring political views to the classroom. Kim Parker from Pew Research Centers shares some interesting polling of American’s differing views regarding Higher Education. See the full story here.

Speaker’s Task Force on Adoption- August 28, 2019 at UW-Platteville-Richland

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The Speaker’s Task Force on Adoption will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at UW- Platteville-Richland. The Task Force will hear invited testimony starting at 12:00 p.m..  See Public Hearing notice for more details.

Rep. Murphy/Sen. Jacque bill package- bills introduced in Assembly

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Rep. Dave Murphy, (R-Greenville), the chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, and Sen. André Jacque, (R-De Pere), introduced a series of bills that affect the UW System.  The bills were formally introduced in the Assembly and have been assigned as follows:

  • AB-369 UW Tuition: This bill creates a cohort tuition model and limits future tuition increases to CPI for each incoming class.
  • AB-373 UW Fees: This bill limits the use of seg fees and imposes restrictions on seg fees for athletics and capital building projects, while giving students responsibility for the disposition of all segregated fees (allocable and non-allocable)
  • AB-372 UW-System Reporting: This bill streamlines or eliminates several reports we are required to submit to the state, and it allows graduate health science classes to start before September 1st.
  • AB- 371 Course Numbering: This bill creates a universal course numbering system between UW System and WTCS, and it eliminates the statutory distinction between UW System and WTCS.
  • AB-370 UW Debt Guarantees: This bill makes several changes to the governance of affiliated organizations, limits the authority of the Board of Regents to delegate powers, and fixes the statutes related to guaranties of public debt.

 

Chapter UWS 17, Wisconsin Administrative Code Hearing Recap and Bills Introduced

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A public hearing was held on Tuesday, August 13 on Administrative Code Scope Statement for Chapter UWS 17, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Ch. UWS 17, Wis. Admin. Code). UW System seeks to modify Ch. UWS 17, Wis. Admin. Code to address student discipline related to violent or other disorderly misconduct that materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others, when a formal investigation and disciplinary hearing is required, and mandatory sanctions for students found responsible for misconduct that materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others. All UW System institutions would be affected by the proposed rule revisions articulated in the related scope statement.

At the same time, Representatives Cody Horlacher, Robin Vos, and Dave Murphy along with Senator Chris Kapenga introduced LRB-3437/1: Free Expression within the University of Wisconsin System.  The bill puts the responsibility on the UW Board of Regents to discipline any actions inhibiting free speech by campus speakers, students and faculty. It also allows campus speakers, students and faculty to discuss anything protected by the first amendment. The Board of Regents currently has a policy in place addressing actions for those in violation of free speech rights.