Campus Budget Update

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed the following from Chancellor Michael Alexander to the UW-Green Bay Faculty and Staff on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

Dear UW-Green Bay Faculty and Staff,

I hope you are all doing well.  Prior to our Coffee Break on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m., I wanted to update you on three items regarding our budget.

  1. We were informed by System that the Pay Plan increase from this year will no longer be funded.  In order to sustain the 2% pay increase, we must pay for this from existing funds.  The result amounts to a permanent base budget cut to the university of $218,000 so that we can fund the pay increases this year and moving forward.
  2. We received an additional $709,000 in one-time money from the Governor’s Office to help assist with COVID-related expenses. We are still waiting on final details for how that money can be used.
  3. I want to thank everyone working at the Manitowoc, Marinette, and Sheboygan campuses.  Because of your hard work, we are making enormous strides towards putting each of those locations in a positive enrollment and financial position moving forward.  This is an amazing accomplishment and one that we should all celebrate as one university with four locations all moving forward together.

Kate, Sheryl, and I look forward to talking with you all on Monday morning.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

UW System Budget Update

The UW-Green Bay office of the Chancellor forwarded UW System President Ray Cross’s message regarding the budget to faculty, staff and students on Monday, May 8, 2017.

May 8, 2017

UW Students and Colleagues,

Last week, the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) began voting on the 2017-19 biennial budget. I would like to share with you several highlights of the UW System budget request as we expect JFC will vote on our provisions mid-to-late May.

  • We put forth a reasonable budget request totaling $42.5 million, which aligns our resources with the state’s greatest needs as identified by more than 5,000 citizens, students, business and community leaders, faculty and families in our listening sessions around the state.
  • The request included an increase of $19 million in additional financial aid through the Wisconsin Grant program so that all students in need are served. The Board also passed a plan that freezes tuition in year one allows for an increase of no more than inflation in year two.
  • Our faculty and staff work incredibly hard – and our institutions compete for talent at a national and international level. UW System asked for a compensation increase of 2% in each year of the biennium. We are also working with the legislature to ensure the UW System remains part of the compensation reserve so that our staff get the same pay increases as other state employees in future budgets. To best serve our students, the UW System needs to be able to continue to attract and retain talented faculty. We are working with the administration and legislature to refine the formula and metrics associated with outcomes-based funding. While often referred to as performance-based funding, I agree with members of the Joint Finance Committee who believe we should focus on investing in, measuring, and rewarding outcomes rather than inputs. Metrics should be measurable, have value to the state, and protect our commitment to a comprehensive and quality college experience.
  • We need appropriate teaching and living spaces for our faculty and students, and we continue to advocate for our capital budget, which renovates, remodels and maintains our existing buildings. The maintenance plan we submitted affects about 3% of our existing inventory – and renovates only 1.6% of our gross square footage. Project costs go up when delayed, and if we can make the necessary repairs now, it will save taxpayers and students millions of dollars in the future. Projects at UW-Milwaukee and UW-Extension have already received formal support, and UW-Platteville, UW-Parkside, and UW-Madison may be added to the list in the future.

Looking Ahead

The UW System will receive new state dollars for the first time in nearly a decade. This demonstrates an appreciation for the value and economic impact UW System brings to Wisconsin. Historically, Wisconsin has received at least $10 in economic impact for every $1 of State funding invested in UW System. Conservatively, the UW System’s impact to Wisconsin’s economy is $15+ billion each year.

Both the UW System’s budget request and the Governor’s budget proposal focus on college affordability and accountability. While some of the tactics are different, we are heading down the same path.

Our message throughout this budget has been consistent and clear: now is time to invest in the UW. We are actively working to ensure the UW System’s final budget supports our mission of being an affordable, top tier public university system. We must provide solutions for our state’s unique problems, while driving economic prosperity for all of our citizens. By working together with stakeholders across our institutions, I am confident that our best and brightest days as a System lay ahead. Thank you for your help and support in this endeavor.

Good luck with your finals, congratulations to all those who are graduating this month, and enjoy the upcoming summer!

President Ray Cross

Budget Meetings

Per communication earlier this week regarding a proposed $2M budget reduction the 2017/18 fiscal year, Chancellor Miller will visit each of the UW-Green Bay colleges and various administrative and support units to discuss and take questions. The schedule of those visits are as follows:

Group 1: College of Science & Technology (Dean John Katers)

Date: Thursday, March 30, 2017
Time: 7 a.m.
Location: University Union, 1965 Room

Group 2: College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (Dean Scott Furlong)

Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: University Union, Phoenix C

Group 3: Austin E. Cofrin School of Business (Dean Doug Hensler)

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Wood Hall 328

Group 4:  College of Health, Education & Social Welfare (Dean Susan Gallaghler-Lepak)

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: University Union, 1965 Room

Group 5: Business and Finance

  • Human Resources
  • Controller
  • Business and Finance
  • Public Safety
  • Facilities
  • Purchasing
  • Information Services
  • University Union

Date: Thursday, March 30, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: University Union 103

Group 6: Athletics

Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Kress Center, Special Events Room

Group 7: Library and Administration

  • Chancellor’s Office
  • Provost’s Office
  • Weidner Center
  • Library
  • Marketing and Communication
  • Continuing Education/Extension

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: University Union, 1965 Room

Group 8: Advancement

Date: Monday, April 10, 2017
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Cofrin Library 805

Group 9: Student Services

  • Enrollment Services
  • Student Affairs
  • Residence Life

Date: March 23, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: University Union, Christie Theater

Budget Challenges & Opportunities

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor e-mailed the following memorandum from Chancellor Miller to faculty and staff on Monday, March 20, 2017.

Per this communication, Chancellor Miller will visit each of the UW-Green Bay colleges and various administrative and support units to discuss and take questions. See the schedule »

2017.03.20-Budget-Challenges-and-Opportunities

Challenges & Opportunities – Budget Memorandum
To: University Community
From: Gary L. Miller
Date: March 20, 2017
Subject: Challenges and Opportunities

UW-Green Bay Annual Business Meeting

Campus leadership hosted a UW-Green Bay Annual Business Meeting, on September 30, 2016.  UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary Miller, Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Sheryl Van Gruensven and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Greg Davis provided an update on the state of the University. The agenda included an overview of the 2017-2019 biennial budget process, what it holds for UW-Green Bay and the ongoing work to advocate for the University. Also provided was an update on UWGB’s current budget, fund balances and overall financial health going into the new academic year. The presentation also highlighted enrollment progress and the correlation between enrollment and the University budgeting process and gave an update on recent expenditure reduction efforts. Each of the two presentation sessions closed with a question and answer session.

Video of the presentation will be available this week.

The presentation file (pdf) is available for download.

UW-Green Bay Annual Business Meeting

2017-19 Biennial Budget Request

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor e-mailed the following 2017-19 Biennial Budget Request memorandum from Chancellor Miller to faculty and staff on Tuesday, August 9, 2016.

2017-19 Biennial Budget Request memorandum
To: University Community
Date: August 9, 2016
Subject: 2017-19 Biennial Budget Request

The memorandum includes a link to 2017-19 UW System Budget Information, a page containing documents relevant to the argument for new investment into higher education.

2017-19 UW System Budget Information

Available below are documents containing important information related to UW-Green Bay’s case for new higher education investment.

UW System: A good investment for Wisconsin
UW System: A good investment for Wisconsin
Details of the return on investment to the UW System
1 page

2020FWD-Stakeholder-Process
2020FWD strategic plan stakeholder process
1 page

The Value of Higher Education to Wisconsin’s Economy (Wisconsin Technology Council, May 2016 report)
The Value of Higher Education to Wisconsin’s Economy
Wisconsin Technology Council
May 2016 report
25 pages

Future Wisconsin Economic Summit (WMC Foundation; December 9, 2015)
Future Wisconsin Economic Summit
WMC Foundation
December 9, 2015
4 pages

Stronger-Nation-Exerpt-Georgetown-CEW_Page_1
A Stronger Nation
Excerpt Annual Report
Lumina Foundation

2016.08-MEDIA-BACKGROUND-UW-System-2017-19-Biennial-Budget-Overview_Page_1
UW System 2017-19 Biennial Budget Request
August 2015
7 pages

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Update on budget reduction efforts

UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary L. Miller released the following message via e-mail to employees on Wednesday, April 27, 2016:

Today, Provost Davis and I shared details regarding the University’s most recent budget reduction efforts with the Faculty Senate. For transparency, we are sharing this same information with you at this time. This video message https://youtu.be/WRg0uglQl00 provides background on the work that’s been done over the last few months. In addition, the attached budget reduction summary shows where and how the Budget Reduction Team identified an additional $2 million, which can be accomplished without any layoffs.

As always, should you have any questions on this or our ongoing efforts to navigate our evolving operational and funding models, please know that my door is always open.

Thank you for your ongoing support during this transformational time.

Gary L. Miller
Chancellor

Attachment: FY17 Reduction Summary.pdf

E-mail: UWGB 2015-16 Budget Reduction Impact Summary

UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary L. Miller released the following message via e-mail to employees on Friday, April 15, 2016:

I am sure you have now seen the budget impact sheets released by UW System for each campus.  You may find the one for UWGB at UWGB Budget Reduction Impact. This report was prepared at the direction of UW System to inform the Board of Regents, legislative colleagues and our community partners about the general effects of the budget reductions enacted by the legislature last year.  The reductions listed on this sheet went into effect this past year. As we routinely argue, universities are integrated organizations and, thus, cuts in one area affect many other areas.  The list of effects of these reductions reflect this integration.  This sheet is not intended to be a detailed list of all reductions.  Rather, it is designed to give the reader a clear impression of the overall effect of reducing the university budget by more than $2 M.

Our current expense reduction process is also noted on the summary sheet.  The details of that additional $2 M reduction related to soft enrollment will be disseminated to the University community in the coming days as decisions are finalized.

I continue to believe UWGB is in the best position possible to work through our current difficulties and expand our role in this community.  However, please know that our Trustees and I continue to strongly urge policy makers not to apply additional reductions to the University in the coming biennium and to enter into a discussion about a rational tuition policy.  I will share a copy of the Trustees’ statement in the near future.

Thank you all for your great work and, most especially, for your commitment to our students and this community.

Gary L. Miller
Chancellor