UW Chancellors Say Budget Cuts Will Be Painful

Martin Speaks To UW System Board Of Regents

Updated: 8:13 am CST March 6, 2009

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin said Thursday that state budget cuts could force her campus to limit enrollment in some programs, cut course sections and do less research.

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Martin spoke to the UW System Board of Regents on Thursday, along with chancellors who run UW-La Crosse, UW-Extension and UW Colleges.

Martin said she asked college deans to develop plans to cut their budgets by 5 percent, about the amount Gov. Jim Doyle's budget plan would require.

Martin said she hopes the cuts will be reduced before lawmakers approve the budget. She said she worries that if that doesn't happen, the university will be harmed.

"This may be an overstatement, I hope, of what the conditions will be in the end. It could be an understatement," Martin said.

While Martin didn't give specific numbers, she talked about how a 5-percent cut could force the cutting of faculty and academic staff, the elimination of some majors and course sections, limiting enrollment in some programs, cutting back on research and a cut in other student services.

"If we're not able to prevent it -- but I will do everything within my power, as will the deans to prevent it -- there could be a decrease in the amount of financial aid we have available to our students," Martin said. "Madison is already $20 million short of meeting the full demonstrated financial need of our students."

Martin said her overview of what UW could lose amid state budget cuts is a worst-case scenario that she hopes won't be the case.

The UW System Board of Regents has until July to make its final budget decisions.

The Board of Regents also discussed the federal economic stimulus package, and how the UW System could benefit. The board is already planning to ask for federal money to help pay for three campus construction projects.

A UW System task force is also discussing ways it might be able to secure and use some of the federal stimulus money.

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