FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tough Choices have Tough Consequences:

UW Cuts some of the deepest in the Country

Contact:
Matt Guidry (608) 239-7222
January 24, 2012

WISCONSIN- UW System schools in communities across Wisconsin are facing deep budget cuts that will drastically alter the quality of higher education in the state. The cuts in the 2011-2013 Wisconsin Biennial Budget to higher education are in the top 5 most cut in the US.

Students want to see this trend end.

We are sick and tired of bearing the brunt of these cuts to ‘balance a budget,’” said Seth Hoffmeister, President of United Council. “The cuts in the budget and the additional cuts from the budget lapse are not helping students graduate and find good paying jobs in Wisconsin. Funding higher education should be a priority for this state. Our schools are the economic drivers for our state and educate the students who will someday be the leaders. What business or company is going to want to come here if we lack the educated workforce needed? We need funding for higher education to keep moving forward.”

UW campuses around the state have begun to release the impacts of budget cuts. UW-Madison announced that is cutting a major in the School of Human Ecology and 29 classes in the School of Education, with more anticipated to come.

The annual report from the Grapevine Project, at Illinois State University – Center for the Study of Higher Education, and the State Higher Education Executive Officers showed higher education funding down across the nation by 7.6%, but Wisconsin was ranked in the top three for largest percent cut.

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United Council of UW Students advocate for students on issues of higher education
pertaining to value, quality and the student experience.