Leaders at the University of Wisconsin-Superior are looking for ways to make cuts as they prepare to lose nearly $1 million in state aid.
UW System schools learned earlier this month that lower-than-projected tax revenue would force them to swallow a one-time loss or "lapse" of $65.6 million on top of cuts already made in the state budget. Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch sent out a memo to state agency heads saying they need to return $174.3 million in state aid.
Although the UW System represents about 7 percent of the state's spending, it is being asked to bear the brunt of the cuts -- nearly 38 percent.
"It will clearly undermine the ability of higher education to serve the people of Wisconsin, and I think it's going to be truly unfair and harmful to the people of Wisconsin," said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, during a news conference this week at UWS. He said the proposed one-time lapse in funding will be reviewed by the Joint Finance Committee before being approved.
The Superior university campus already is swallowing a $1.9 million budget cut for the 2012 fiscal year and another $1.9 million cut for fiscal year 2013.
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Tuition rose 5.5 percent -- the highest amount allowed -- this year and will again next year, said Jan Hanson, chancellor of administration and finance. But the new loss of money -- $700,000 in 2012 and nearly $300,000 in 2013 -- comes on top of that, in the middle of the first semester.
"The bulk of these cuts have to occur in the second semester," Jauch said.
The campus had more than 50 resignations and retirements since March 1. Hanson said the campus community will look at leaving some of those positions unfilled. They will discuss whether to cut back academic offerings or increase class size.
UWS is known for its small classes where students get to know their professors by name, said Rep. Nick Milroy, D-South Range, and that small-school feeling gives many young adults opportunities for higher education here in the Twin Ports.
"I think with these cuts, we'll see a further erosion of those opportunities for people," Milroy said.
