Jay Rothman
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — “Budgets reflect priorities.” That’s what Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman stressed during his visit on the UW-Green Bay campus Wednesday.
Rothman held a discussion at the Weidner to discuss the Universities of Wisconsin’s 2025-27 budget request.
Last week, the Universities of Wisconsin regents agreed to ask Gov. Tony Evers for an additional $855 million in the next state budget.
Currently Wisconsin ranks 43rd of 50 states in public funding for its state universities.
“That’s a stark indication that the Universities of Wisconsin have been neglected for far too long,” Rothman said.
The proposed budget would put the UWs in the middle of the national rankings in public funding.
“Every bordering state around Wisconsin is in the top ten in terms of funding; that’s Illinois, that’s Minnesota, that’s Michigan, that’s Iowa,” Rothman added.
Rothman says the UW system is relying too much on student tuition and more public funding would be a great investment for the state.
“We all know that education unlocks opportunities, it creates opportunities for our students to have a different life, it changes the trajectory of their lives, that’s what we need to accomplish. Being 43rd out of 50 doesn’t do that, that is not the Wisconsin I know,” he said.
And to win the war for talent, Rothman says a budget increase would also help retain and attract teaching staff.
Rothman has promised he won’t seek to raise tuition during the life of the two-year spending plan if the system gets the money.
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