state budget – Chancellor's News and Notes

UW-Green Bay Funding in the New State Budget

Dear UW-Green Bay Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Today, Governor Evers signed the state budget which will provide a total of $102,270,000 in funding for UW-Green Bay. The funding provides $96,297,000 for the replacement for the Cofrin Library into the new Cofrin Research Center, $3,268,000 for renovation of the Studio Arts Visual Arts Laboratory, $2,349,000 for renovation of the Mary Ann Cofrin/Wood Hall Health Care Skills & Simulation Laboratory, and $356,800 in annual Tribal Gaming Funds to be used for First Nations programming and summer camps.

Cofrin Research Center architectural rendering — New Cofrin Research Center Aerial View

The funding listed above will continue to provide momentum for UW-Green Bay. It is a clear indication that our state government believes in our ability to transform the lives of our students, be a driver for the economic growth of our region, and continually improve the quality of life for everyone that lives in our 16-county footprint. Once again, I want to thank Governor Evers, the Wisconsin Legislature, the Oneida Nation, the Board of Regents, and President Thompson for their support. We succeed by working together.

Now we must continue to sprint forward to strive for the lofty ideals we have set as a university in our mission and vision. While facilities are incredibly important to providing a quality education, it is what we do in these spaces and with this funding to elevate everyone around us that truly matters.

It is a great day to be a Phoenix. Let’s continue to dream bigger as we rise.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Capital Project Update

Yesterday, the Committee on Joint Finance of the Wisconsin State Legislature approved $96,297,000 in funding for the removal of the current Cofrin Library to be replaced with a new Cofrin Research Center. This is the first state-funded UW-Green Bay major academic capital project to proceed to this point in the budgeting process in over 20 years. If the full legislature approves the building and the budget is signed by Governor Evers, we will complete the process to have the building funded.

In addition to the Cofrin Research Center, the committee approved $3,268,000 for the Studio Arts Visual Arts Laboratory Renovation, $2,349,000 for the Mary Ann Cofrin Hall/Wood Hall Health Care Skills & Simulation Laboratory Renovation, and $356,800 in Tribal Gaming Funds to be used for First Nations Programming and Summer Camps.

I want to thank the UW System, President Thompson, the Board of Regents, the Wisconsin Legislature, the Oneida Nation, and Governor Evers for their support of UW-Green Bay. There are also many internal people and community advocates that worked tirelessly over several years to get us to this point. These projects represent the future of the University. They are forward-thinking, fully connected to our region, welcoming to all, and will support learning, collaboration, and research. UW-Green Bay has momentum that is undeniable. We continue to grow through recruitment and retention efforts, we are fiscally sound, and we have a mission and vision that is resonating with our community. I appreciate everyone across the state who recognizes the potential of UW-Green Bay to support the economy and quality of life in the 16-county footprint we proudly serve, and I look forward to the next steps in the process.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

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.

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
Details of the return on investment to the UW System
1 page

2020FWD strategic plan stakeholder process
1 page

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
4 pages

A Stronger Nation
Excerpt Annual Report
Lumina Foundation

UW System 2017-19 Biennial Budget Request
August 2015
7 pages

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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

UWGB Budget Reduction Impact

UW System comprehensive universities prepared snapshots of budget reductions for the April 2016 Regents’ meeting. Although the budget discussions in the full board meeting were tabled, the documents are available for public viewing. You can see them here.

View UW-Green Bay’s Budget Reduction Impact Summary document (pdf).

Memorandum: Future of the UPIC

Thursday, February 25, 2016 the UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor e-mailed the following memorandum from Chancellor Miller to faculty and staff outlining the future of the University Planning and Innovation Council (UPIC). UPIC was formed in Fall 2014 to increase participation among the campus community in a biennial-based strategic budgeting process for UWGB.

Memorandum
To: University Community
From: Gary L. Miller
Date: February 25, 2016
Subject: Future of the UPIC

State Budget Town Hall Recording

Chancellor Miller addressed an audience of 300 faculty, staff and students in the fifth in a series of informational budget “town hall” sessions in the University Theatre on Wednesday morning (June 3). After making brief remarks, he opened the floor to a question and answer session. A synopsis of the budget forum will be available on the UW-Green Bay Inside news site.

Chancellor Miller’s opening remarks

12:47 | 5.2MB | Download the audio file

Question and answer portion

1:15:07 | 28.8MB | Download the audio file

Town Hall meeting planned for tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3)

UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary L. Miller released the following invitation to faculty, staff and students on Tuesday, June 2, 2015:

Chancellor Gary Miller and campus leaders invite you to a Town Hall Meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 3 in the University Theatre to hear comments regarding the budget update, budget process and summer activities. We hope you will join us. A summary of discussion points is available in a memorandum here https://blog.uwgb.edu/chancellor/2015/06/02/budget-update-2/.

Budget Update

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor e-mailed the following Budget Update Memorandum from Chancellor Miller to faculty and staff on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.

UW-Green Bay leadership will convene a town hall meeting at 10:00 a.m. this Wednesday, June 3 in the University Theatre to hear comments and continue discussion on issues involving the state budget.