UW System President Ray Cross and Regent President Andrew S. Petersen, along with Regents Eve Hall and Torrey Tiedeman, joined UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone for a series of events at UW-Milwaukee on Thursday, February 13, for the ninth stop of UW System’s All In Wisconsin tour, aimed at demonstrating the value the UW System brings to Wisconsin.

The tour kicked off with a breakfast with community and business leaders including representatives from corporations and local governments in the region. Regent President Petersen spoke about the importance of forming lasting partnerships between business and the UW System.

UWM also hosted two student panels: an entrepreneurship panel featuring students and their stories with a focus of “Entrepreneurs in Action,” and a student success panel highlighting the “Panther Foundations for Success” internship development program.

The day ended with a news conference to announce an important step the UW System is taking to continue its focus on increasing diversity and inclusion across UW campuses: funding for a campus climate survey. The UW System is executing a contract with the Higher Education Research Institute to survey students at the UW System’s 13 universities to provide baseline information about the perceptions of students as they enter the universities and their experiences at the universities.

See the UW news release for a full recap of the event.

The next stop on the All In Wisconsin tour is UW-Madison on March 13.

The Assembly Committee on Agriculture held a public hearing on Tuesday, February 4, and heard the following bill relating to UW System:

• AB-796– Nitrate Reduction Pilot: creating a pilot grant program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading, funding research for nitrate loading reduction methods, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy held a public hearing on Wednesday, February 5, and heard the following bill relating to UW System:

• SB-718 Nitrate Reduction Pilot: creating a pilot grant program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading, funding research for nitrate loading reduction methods, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

UW-Stevens Point representative Kevin Masirik testified for information only.

• SB 722– Groundwater Quality – supporting the Center for Watershed Science and Education, creating a hydrogeologist position, funding research on phosphorus recovery and reuse, creating grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation

President Cross submitted written testimony, attached below, in favor of this bill.

Following the public hearing, the Committee held an executive session and considered the following bills related to UW System:

• SB-712– Freshwater Collaborative: funding a University of Wisconsin System freshwater collaborative and making an appropriation. Passed in a 5-0 vote
• SB 709– Water Policy Office: creating an office of water policy and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1, in a 5-0 vote

The Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight held an executive session on Wednesday, February 5 and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

• AB 799 Water Policy Office: creating an office of water policy and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1, in a 10-1 vote.
• AB 629 Fee Reports: Biennial reports regarding fees charged by executive agencies. Passed in a 7-4 vote.

The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities held an executive session on Thursday, February 6, and heard the following bills related to UW System:

• AB 684– Tuition Grants:  veteran-related tuition grants for certain veterans and dependents enrolled in private nonprofit institutions of higher education and making an appropriation.  Passed including Amendment 1 in a 16-0 vote.
• AB 801– Freshwater Collaborative: funding a University of Wisconsin System freshwater collaborative and making an appropriation. Passed in a 16-0 vote.
• AB 800– Groundwater Quality: supporting the Center for Watershed Science and Education, creating a hydrogeologist position, funding research on phosphorus recovery and reuse, creating grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1 in a 16-0 vote.