Hi Everyone,

Recently, a number of UW System faculty members on campuses throughout the state approved votes of no confidence in UW leadership. They are rejecting reform to the job for life tenure that we have sought.

Our focus is on making college more affordable and accessible in Wisconsin. With two sons in college, I know how important this is.

I’m proud to say we froze resident undergrad tuition at all University of Wisconsin campuses for four years in a row. 

The average Wisconsin student has saved $6,311 over four years as a result of our tuition freeze.

Before our freeze, tuition went up by 118 percent over ten years. You see, years ago, former Governor Jim Doyle cut $250 million from the UW System, but allowed most of that deficit to be made up through higher tuition costs. Since 1994, tuition went up by more than inflation every year except one until our freeze went into effect.

In turn, we stopped that trend and froze tuition.

Today, the overall University of Wisconsin System operating budget is the largest it’s ever been.

Managing our natural resources and preserving our hunting heritage is a delicate balance. We are continually assessing and updating our Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) plan to make sure we use sound science to contain and address this complicated disease.

Last week, we announced the various steps we're taking to update the CWD plan at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Convention. The plan includes seeking input from hunters, landowners, farmers, and foresters in every county using County Deer Advisory Councils (CDACs); directing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct a comprehensive study of deer population dynamics; creating Best Management Practices for the deer farm industry; conducting more frequent fence inspections; and developing quicker test results for hunters.

As we continue to build a stronger and more prosperous Wisconsin than the one of our parents’ generation, we know strengthening our workforce is a major factor to consider.

That’s why we invested in the Fabrication Laboratories, or Fab Labs, Program in our 2015-17 biennial budget.

We made $500,000 available to school districts through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). So far, 25 schools throughout the state have received awards.

That includes Southern Door School District, which was awarded $25,000 by WEDC to create a Fab Lab in their school.