MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross issued this statement today:
“We appreciate that the Governor recognizes many of the challenges in facility repair, renovation, and replacement that the University of Wisconsin System is facing. Our challenges are significant as we seek to update antiquated buildings and systems to ensure the safe and modern learning environment students expect. As the largest owner of physical space in state government, the UW System’s capital budget request represented just 8% of the total UW System portfolio.”
The University of Wisconsin System serves more than 170,000 students. Awarding 36,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. More than 80 percent of UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.