Press Release: ICYMI: Gov. Evers Celebrates Back-to-School Season Visiting UW Campuses Across the State

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 09/23/2024 11:34 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2024
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
ICYMI: Gov. Evers Celebrates Back-to-School Season Visiting UW Campuses Across the State 
Governor visited nine University of Wisconsin campuses, highlighting plan to increase state support for the UW System by over $800 million in next state budget 
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers last week concluded his back-to-school tour, visiting nine University of Wisconsin (UW) System campuses to celebrate and welcome educators, students, staff, and administrators back to school for the 2024-25 school year, while highlighting his efforts to increase state support for the UW System by over $800 million in his 2025-27 biennial budget proposal. This would be the largest biennial increase for the UW System in state history—a move aimed at preventing further staff and faculty layoffs, campus closures, and program cuts and consolidations. Gov. Evers previously spent the last several weeks visiting K-12 schools across the state to celebrate the back-to-school season. Additional information on the governor’s K-12 visits is available here.

“I, like many Wisconsinites and many of our legislators, can trace my path of success to the high-quality public education I received from our UW System, and in a state with a proud tradition of public education, we should be ashamed to be 43rd in the nation in state support to our public universities,” said Gov. Evers. “Our UW System and public education are a critical part of our state’s workforce, our economy, and our future success. If we want to keep Wisconsin’s homegrown talent and bring more bright kids to our state—and keep them here, too—we must invest in our UW System statewide. It’s as simple as that.” 

Gov. Evers earlier this year delivered remarks to the UW System Board of Regents to announce his 2025-27 executive budget will propose an increase of over $800 million for the UW System—the largest biennial increase in state funding for the UW System in state history. Gov. Evers, a former Regent, urged the Board to join him in supporting significant increases for the UW System by approving an agency budget request consistent with the governor’s proposed investment.

Last month, the Board of Regents answered the governor’s call, approving an agency budget request that met the governor’s request to make robust, ongoing state investments in the UW System. The governor has committed to meeting or exceeding the budget request approved by the Board of Regents.

The governor’s call for substantial state investments in the UW System comes as six UW branch campuses announced closures and several UW campuses have been forced to furlough and lay off employees, shift funding or make cuts, and restructure portions of campus operations, which the governor argued in his remarks is largely due to Republican lawmakers’ actions and inaction over the last decade, as highlighted in reporting by PolitiFact Wisconsin. According to the State Higher Education Finance Report, which is released by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Wisconsin ranked 42nd for public funding for four-year colleges based on 2022 data. A report released in April 2023 by the Wisconsin Policy Forum found that the UW System ranked 43rd nationally for per-student funding in 2021.

On Mon., Sept. 16, Gov. Evers kicked off his back-to-school tour of UW campuses, starting with a visit to UW-La Crosse, where he was joined by UW-La Crosse Chancellor James Beeby, State Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), State Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), and campus leaders. The governor started the tour at the Student Union, where he met with members of the UW-La Crosse Student Association and encouraged them to get involved in the upcoming budget process to support additional funding for UW campuses and UW-La Crosse’s Prairie Springs Science Building. Then, the governor had the opportunity to visit Wittich Hall to see the modernizations and upgrades made to that once-aging building to better serve students, and he concluded his tour with a visit to Morris Hall, where the governor spoke with education students, including a literacy components class and an early education class. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

Then, to continue his day, the governor visited UW-Superior. Gov. Evers, joined by UW-Superior Chancellor Dr. Renée Wachter, as well as other campus and faculty leadership, started the tour at the Marcovich Wellness Center, where he spoke with students and faculty about mental health and resources students are using to promote and learn about mental wellness. He then met with student-athletes and had the opportunity to check out the campus’ new stadium, track, and field. He was joined for the visit by Superior Mayor Jim Paine. Photos of the visit are available here and here. 

On Tues., Sept. 17, as a continuation of the governor’s UW System visits, the governor began his day at UW-Milwaukee. Gov. Evers was greeted by Chancellor Mark Mone. The governor, joined by Housing Director Arcetta Clay Jones and Facilities Associate Director Beth Lobner, visited Sandburg Residence Hall. Then, the governor talked with UW-Milwaukee Libraries Director Dr. Michael Doylen, who told the governor about efforts to expand access to affordable learning resources for students as they walked to the University Recreation Center/Klotsche Center and Pavillion, where he met Director Steven Mohar and learned about wellness and fitness programs provided at UW-Milwaukee. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

Afterward, the governor continued his day with a visit to UW-Green Bay. Gov. Evers was greeted by Vice Chancellor for Inclusivity and Community Engagement Dr. Dawn Crim. The governor met with faculty at the Student Union, visited a luncheon for nursing students receiving scholarships, and received an update from Chancellor Michael Alexander and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Access and Success Meagan Strehlow on the university’s Rising Phoenix program, which provides high school students with the opportunity to take college courses while in high school.

Finally, the governor visited UW-Stevens Point, where he was greeted by UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson and joined for a campus tour by State Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza. The governor visited the Science Building, where he learned about the university’s nursing program that is helping bolster the state’s nursing workforce and visited a class of physical therapy students, where they discussed the university’s efforts to impact rural health. The governor then met with student leaders who are providing peer-led support services to students and learned about a new capital building project on campus. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

On Wed., Sept. 18, Gov. Evers visited his alma mater, UW-Madison. The governor was greeted by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, Vice Chancellor for University Relations Craig Thompson, and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway, who led the governor on a tour around campus. The governor first stopped at Four Lakes Market, the dining facility at Dejope Residence Hall, where he discussed the expansion of the facility and mingled with students. Then, the governor held a brief discussion with student leaders from the Associated Students of Madison and the Student Services Finance Committee about the benefits of student services. Afterward, Gov. Evers enjoyed a stop at Babcock Dairy Store for ice cream. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

Later that day, the governor stopped by UW-Whitewater. Gov. Evers was greeted by UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King and Provost John Chenoweth. On the tour, the governor visited Upham Hall, where he had the chance to see undergraduate students performing STEM research. Then, the tour continued at the University Center, where Gov. Evers saw the newly launched “One Stop.” One Stop opened earlier this month and is designed to provide comprehensive student support, offering consultations on financial aid, scholarships, academic advising, course registration, student life, and more. The governor concluded the tour visiting students and their organizations at the Warhawk Connection Center. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

On Thurs., Sept. 19, Gov. Evers began his final day of back-to-school tours with a visit to UW-Eau Claire. The governor, greeted by UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt, State Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick), and State Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire), went on to observe a computer science class taught by Dr. Rahul Gomes, touching on machine learning and AI, and listened to two students who presented their research that involved using AI. Then, the governor attended a Study Abroad Fair to learn about the program’s offerings for students and spoke with students and staff. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

Finally, the governor concluded his UW System tours with a visit to UW-Platteville. Gov. Evers was greeted by Chancellor Tammy Evetovich, Chief of Staff Bridget Wallace, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Provost Laura Reynolds, and Acting Dean of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science Dr. Philip Parker. The governor was then led on a tour of Sesquicentennial Hall by Chancellor Evetovich, first starting with viewing research labs with students, then they met with the World Champion Robotics team and saw the robots in action. Afterward, they continued the tour, seeing the Plexus Women in STEM Center and the Huff Family Innovation Center, and spoke with students about their mechanical engineering senior design projects. The governor then participated in an ice cream social with students, faculty, and staff on the green roof. Photos of the visit are available here and here. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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