Day One News Summary
The University of Wisconsin System contributes $9.5 billion to the state’s economy each year, a return of nearly 10 times the amount the state invests in the university, according to a study released Thursday.
David J. Ward, president of NorthStar Economics in Madison, illustrated for the Board of Regents at its Sept. 12 meeting in Madison how the university directly and indirectly impacts jobs, in-state spending and Wisconsin tax revenues.
The study shows the UW System has created more than 150,000 Wisconsin jobs and generates $408 million in annual state tax sales and income revenues. The UW System contributes more than 5.5% of the gross state product, Ward said.
If the UW System were a private Wisconsin company, this impact would place it in the top 20 state firms, Ward said.
“It’s a substantial number, but a very modest one,” said Regent James R. Klauser, as Ward explained that the $9.5 billion figure would increase if it included the economic impact of auxiliary organizations and out-of-state spending. “I just think the state’s investment gets a far greater return,” Klauser said.
Northstar Economics is updating a study about the university’s economic impact for the UW System. The university’s economic contribution to the state has increased in real dollars by 5% since the last study. Conducted five years ago, that study found the university contributed a total of $8.2 billion to the state.
Regent Phyllis M. Krutsch said perhaps the Board would utilize the study as it makes decisions about future UW System enrollments and how they will affect the state of Wisconsin.
“Our biggest challenge is to bring bigger business and better jobs, ” Krutsch said. “Clearly, the UW System is one of our greatest assets.”
UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells said the study may help the public better understand how the UW System benefits their communities.
“Bringing it home to the local level is extremely important,” Wells said.
Ward noted that the university’s economic impact on Wisconsin has grown, despite a national economic downturn and a series of state budget cuts to the university.
“Continuing to think of post-secondary education as a major industry in this state is important,” said UW System President Katharine C. Lyall.
Northstar will release additional results from its study on the economic impact of the UW System Wisconsin Economic Summit III, planned for Oct. 14-16 at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee. A full report is expected by the end of the year.
Name changes better reflect UW System’s mission
UW System Senior Vice President Cora B. Marrett explained the recent reorganization and mission of the Office of Academic and Student Services (ACSS) to the board’s Education Committee. The department, formerly Academic Affairs, adopted the name change to more appropriately reflect its student-oriented mission, Marrett said.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs has also changed its name, and will now be known as the Office of Academic Diversity and Development (OADD).
The committee discussed six areas on which the department will focus its efforts in 2002-03, primarily centering on measures of academic quality.
The committee also heard first readings on two new program authorizations: a bachelor’s degree program in Athletic Training at UW-Oshkosh and a collaborative master’s of social work degree from UW-Green Bay and UW-Oshkosh. The latter would jointly serve students in the Fox Valley area and would be funded from existing reallocated dollars from each campus and federal matching funds.
The committee also:
- Unanimously approved a UW-Milwaukee degree in Global Studies, an interdisciplinary major of the College of Letters and Science and the School of Business Administration. It will require one semester of study outside of the United States.
- Approved two statutorily required reports for submission to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance; the 2001 Undergraduate Drop Rate and the Research and Public Service reports.
Regents revisit “Building our Resource Base”
Freda Harris, Associate Vice President of Budget and Planning, reported to the Business and Finance Committee on 25 options for building the UW System resource base, a report the board received last spring. Of these, 10 had been implemented, 6 were being studied for action at a later date and one was being recommended for a pilot. Of note among those recommendations being implemented immediately, the board has requested in its biennial budget submission that it be allowed to retain the interest earnings on student tuition. The board also requested a modification of current policy to move the UW System toward reaching 95% of the peer midpoint for resident undergraduate tuition.
The plan was a look at alternative funding approaches for the UW System. Its principles include the UW System’s commitment to affordability, a continued link between state financial aid and tuition increases and maintaining accountability to stakeholders. The board approved the plan in June 2002.
The UW System Office of Internal Audit reported on contracting and noted that there are a number of reasons UW institutions “contract out.” The report stated that there are advantages and disadvantages to these agreements. If done correctly, outsourcing can often save money and/or improve services. The UW System Office of Procurement is developing a database of currently outsourced items and guidelines for campuses interested in further outsourcing.
In other committee news:
- A UW Eau Claire student senator told the board that given the uncertain status of the state budget, Eau Claire students wanted to increase their fees $5 a semester for the next three semesters and 4.5% annually thereafter to protect the enhancements to their undergraduate education such as internships, undergraduate research, service learning opportunities and capstone courses. The regents will vote on the proposal at the next meeting.
- Recent declines in interest earnings will mean up to $5 million less in auxiliary accounts, according to a report to the board. Rates to students may have to be increased to recover these losses. Trust Funds endowments and UW Foundations will experience about a $6 million loss due to the accounting and corporate fraud exposure issues. The impact on distribution from endowments is expected to be a 3% reduction this year, 10% reduction next year and a 13% reduction the 3rd year, as a three-year rolling average is generally used to determine payouts.
- The board heard a report that the UW share of statewide premiums for property insurance will increase from $600,000 to $1.9 million in FY 2004.
Madison will receive federal funding for building projects
Assistant Vice President for Capital Planning and Budget Nancy Ives reported to the committee that the Building Commission has approved $17 million for various projects since June. The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab to be built in Madison, perhaps before the end of the calendar year, will receive federal funding related to Homeland Security measures for animal disease inspection, Ives said. The Building Commission will probably take action on a request at their meeting next week.
In an annual report, the UW Colleges noted that while capital projects have increased over the past few years, the activity is predicted to level off after the next three biennia. Municipalities are moving more cautiously due to current economic conditions, but have not backed off any commitments to current projects, the report said. These include a science facility at UW-Washington County, an art building renovation at UW-Marathon County, and a high-tech classroom addition at UW-Marshfield/Wood County.
Regent Gerard Randall praised community officials and UW Colleges deans for maintaining funding to the two-year campuses in the face of possible future reductions to shared revenue.
(around table from left) UW System President Katharine C. Lyall joins Regents Roger Axtell, Elizabeth Burmaster, Toby Marcovich and Fred Mohs in taking an oath to become registered electors for the City of Madison. Lyall and several regents plan to register students to vote during a Friday event on Library Mall at UW-Madison. Board President Guy Gottschalk, Student Regent Tommie Jones, Regent Gerard Randall, and UW-Superior Chancellor Julius E. Erlenbach also took the oath.
In other committee action:
- The committee approved a resolution granting authority for a $5.3 million residence hall maintenance project for Cole, Sullivan, and Bradley Halls at UW-Madison.
- Members heard a UW-La Crosse development plan update. In the coming year, additional campuses will report on their long-range planning and building needs.
- In a discussion of the committee’s 2002-03 work plan, committee members expressed an interest in hearing a report of the impact of building programs on small businesses and emphasized the importance of using local vendors whenever possible to keep money in communities. Ives noted that the NorthStar economic impact study of the UW System did not include capital improvement money.
Friday meeting
The Board of Regents continues its September meeting on Friday (Sept. 13), starting at 9 a.m. in 1820 Van Hise Hall in Madison.
Supplemental Materials
UW System Economic Impact Study Highlights
- The University of Wisconsin System contributes $9.5 billion dollars to Wisconsin’s economy annually-5.5 percent of the state’s gross state product.
- UW System activities are responsible for 150,699 Wisconsin jobs, which is 5.5 percent of Wisconsin’s employed workforce.
- The UW System’s presence in the state generates $408 million dollars in state income and sales tax revenue annually, about one-third of the $1 billion budget allocation the UW receives from the state.
- Almost 70 percent of the $3.3 billion UW System revenue comes from sources other than state taxes.
- UW System employees spend more than $1 billion in Wisconsin annually.
- UW System students spend more than $1.3 billion annually in Wisconsin over and above tuition, fees and university supplied room and board.
- Visitors to UW-related events spend more than $726 million dollars in the state.
- Wisconsin realizes a 9 percent return on its investment in a UW System baccalaureate degree through higher taxes paid by UW graduates.
- The state is paid back for educating a UW System baccalaureate student in less than 10 years.
- UWS baccalaureate degree holders reap a 30 percent return on their education investment beyond high school.
- A UW System student is paid back for their higher education in less than 3 years.
- A UW System graduate will earn almost $1 million more than a high school graduate, twice that amount for a doctoral or professional degree.
- The positive cultural and social impacts of an educated populace immeasurably enhance Wisconsin’s quality of life.
Based on “The Economic Impact of the UW System”
Study by Northstar Economics, Inc., Madison, WI
www.northstareconomics.com
September 12, 2002