Government Relations

Legislative Update

Beginning June 2, 2009: See new Legislative Update here.

May 1, 2009

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

In The News

► April 22 – UW System Hosts the 6th Annual Posters in the Rotunda

 

The UW System hosted Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research at the Wisconsin State Capitol on April 22.  In total, over 140 students and 33 faculty advisors from each UW System university and four colleges participated in the event.  For more information, see the UW System press release and the legislative joint resolution in honor of the event. 

State Budget

► April 21-30 – Update on JFC Executive Sessions
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has been meeting in executive sessions to consider the Governor’s biennial budget proposal (AB 75).  For a list of agency budgets recently considered by the JFC, please see each meeting notice for the following executive sessions:

*On April 29, JFC members considered the budgets for the Higher Educational Aids Board and the Wisconsin Technical College System.  Democrats passed, 12-4, omnibus motion #175 that combined financial aid initiatives for all the higher education institutions, including UW, and the private and technical colleges.  See news coverage by the Leader-Telegram, the UW-La Crosse Racquet, and the Badger Herald. 

State Legislation Update

► Legislative Committee Activity
The complete Schedule of Committee Activity is available online.

► New Legislation of Interest
The UW System is monitoring the following newly-introduced legislation of interest:

  • SB 121 – Relating to requiring the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish a career conversations program. (Introduced by Sen. Lassa; referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education.)
  • AB 226 – Relating to increases in undergraduate resident tuition and nonallocable segregated fees at the University of Wisconsin System. (Introduced by Rep. Nass; referred to Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.

FEDERAL UPDATE

► Congress Approves FY2010 Budget Resolution
On April 29, Senate approved the fiscal year 2010 conference agreement by a 53-43 vote (four Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the proposal).  Earlier in the day, the House voted 233-193 in favor of the report, with 17 Democrats joining Republican members in opposition.  The final plan calls for $3.4 trillion in spending, less than President Obama’s original request for $3.6 trillion.  The plan allows Congress enact higher education policy changes – such as transforming the Pell Grant Program into an entitlement program – with only simple majority support in the Senate.  For more information see coverage by the Associated Press and analysis by Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

AROUND WISCONSIN

► “Around Wisconsin” features items relating to exciting progress on campus or examples of strong relations with the community and policy makers. Please send items of interest to externalrelations@uwsa.edu.

  • UW-Green Bay:  Campus Vets 4 Vets program sends care packages to UWGB soldiers serving overseas.
  • UW-Platteville:  Southwestern Wisconsin Small Business Development Center and UW-Extension Grant County collaborate to bring entrepreneur curriculum to area schools.
  • UW-Stout:  Applied science program awarded National Science Foundation grant for STEM scholarships.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May  
7-8 Board of Regents meeting hosted by UW-Milwaukee.
June  
4-5 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
July  
9 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
22-24 2009 UW System Academic Staff Leadership Conference, hosted by UW-Whitewater.
22-24 Wisconsin Science & Technology Symposium 2009, hosted at UW-La Crosse

 

QUICK LINKS

Web Resources

 

Contact

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