UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary L. Miller e-mailed the following message to UW-Green Bay Alumni on Tuesday, February 24, 2015:
Dear University of Wisconsin–Green Bay alumni,
As many of you know, the University is preparing to make record-size reductions if the Governor’s proposed state budget is approved.
At UW-Green Bay, our share of the largest statewide cut in UW System history would be at least $4 million, roughly 15 percent of our annual taxpayer support. A reduction of that size, taking effect July 1, would obviously compromise our ability to serve the community and our 6,500 current students. I have asked a broad-based campus planning team to help me identify creative ways to maintain core services and somehow minimize the pain for people and programs.
The Governor also has proposed important new flexibilities for the University of Wisconsin that will stabilize funding, lead to a more rationale tuition plan and relieve us of unnecessary regulation. While we support these reforms, the magnitude of the budget reductions will make progress difficult.
In the weeks ahead I will have many conversations with state and local legislators about the budget. I know that some friends and alumni have already voiced opinions to neighbors, community leaders and elected officials. We appreciate that passion for UW-Green Bay.
Here’s where UW-Green Bay needs the attention of its 32,000 alumni. If you feel strongly about deep cuts — about the retreat from funding levels that helped make college possible for you and your fellow UWGB grads — join the discussion. Contact your local state legislators and let them know you support a more appropriate UW System allocation, one that helps balance the state’s books without putting one of Wisconsin’s greatest assets at risk.
Feel free to contact Dan Spielmann of the Chancellor’s Office (spielmad@uwgb.edu) or Kari Moody of Alumni Relations (moodyk@uwgb.edu) to inquire about opportunities for involvement. The website www.uwgb.edu/chancellor has links to budget information and the latest news. You can look up contact information for your local legislators at http://legis.wisconsin.gov.
Working together, we can accomplish great things. I am proud to serve as chancellor, and even prouder to be part of the worldwide UW-Green Bay family. Go Phoenix!
Gary L. Miller
UW-Green Bay Chancellor