MADISON, Wis. – The chancellors and presidents of the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities – the public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities of Wisconsin – released today an to the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress indicating their united support of President Obama’s vision to once again make the United States the world leader in the percentage of its population with a postsecondary degree.
“We are in complete agreement that student achievement, access, and affordability should drive the future of American postsecondary education and that students and families deserve to have the information they need to make an informed decision as to which higher education institution will best fit their unique interests and needs,” they said in the statement.
Responding to the proposed Postsecondary Institution Rating System (PIRS) that is under consideration by the President and U.S. Congress, the chancellors and presidents expressed deep concern that the proposed PIRS could undermine the achievement of that larger vision by: limiting the choices students have when determining which institution to attend; reducing financial aid for low-income, adult, and place-bound students; and causing redundancy and inefficiency in the data that Wisconsin’s public and private nonprofit universities and colleges already make readily available to potential students and their families.
“Ensuring that more Americans have access to the opportunities and benefits of higher education is important to all of us,” the leaders said in the statement, adding that they looked forward to working with the President and Congress to meet those goals.
Richard Telfer, Interim President
University of Wisconsin System
1720 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
rtelfer@uwsa.edu
608.262.2321
Morna Foy, President
Wisconsin Technical College System
4622 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53705
morna.foy@wtcsystem.edu
608.266.1770
Rolf Wegenke, President
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
122 W. Washington Avenue, Ste 700
Madison, WI 53703-2723
rolf.wegenke@waicu.org
608.256.7761 ext 222