Guest Column: Budget cuts forcing difficult decisions

Wayne Weber, Dean, College of BILSA

Wayne Weber, Dean, College of BILSA

I would like to comment on Brian West’s March 11 guest column from my perspective as Dean of the College of BILSA.
The budget cuts the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is facing are, to state it mildly, significant.
To put this in context: UW-Platteville experienced a $3.4 million cut in 2013-2015 resulting in $1.7 million in base cuts. Some of those were handled on a one-time basis until a more complete picture of the future budget outlook was realized. Added to this is the projected $5-$6 million budget shortfall due to declining state support, a tuition freeze in 2013-2015 and a projected tuition freeze in 2015-2017.  In addition, Governor Scott Walker is proposing a $300 million cut to the UW-System that actually equates to an estimated $416.7 million when projected cost increases and other budget reduction items are considered. This would equal an additional $10.5 million cut to UW-Platteville over the 2015-2017 biennium.
As Brian indicated, these unprecedented reductions, the product of irresponsible tax cuts resulting in a substantial state budgetary structural deficit, bring into question Wisconsin’s commitment to public education.
With the substantial cuts facing UW-System, UW-Platteville and the College of BILSA, difficult decisions have to be made. The potential impacts of these decisions on Platteville include the elimination of 52 positions, the transitioning of an additional 18 positions, the transitioning of Media Studies, the transition or possible elimination of the MEMS/Nanotechnology program (in Engineering), the elimination of the Counseling Psychology program and the reduction of staffing in other programs. Other impacts include reduction, suspension, or in some cases, possible elimination of some community outreach programs including the Heartland Festival, Driftless Center, Midwest Culturally Inclusive Conference and PACCE. Finally, there is no question that the removal of $14 million to $20 million from the local economy will have a dramatic impact on this region.
As was indicated in Brian’s column, some of these potential cuts have a direct impact on Media Studies. One of these impacts is that some of the existing and projected vacancies will not be filled and those positions will be cut to help meet the pressing budget reductions. To accommodate these cuts, it is proposed that Media Studies move into the School of Business. There are advantages to this transition: we can maintain the Media Studies program, serve the majors with the incredibly talented continuing faculty and take advantage of logical interaction opportunities. The move will allow us time for continued, thoughtful planning, including a long-range plan for sustaining the Exponent. Dr. Arthur Ranney, chair of Media Studies, has been an essential part of this planning.
Where we might disagree is the use of resources on what Brian termed “pet projects.” Although there may always be differences in thought, from my perspective, budgetary constraints have resulted in past and present leadership being creative to complete facility upgrades and other building projects that were sorely needed. These projects have provided additional residence halls, classrooms, labs, student facilities, instructor office space and administrative office space. The list of projects includes a major upgrade of Ullsvik Hall, the building that now that houses our School of Business in the College of BILSA, Distance Education and Criminal Justice.
We all enjoy nostalgia and as much as I enjoyed the old student center, the new buildings and spaces are much more functional. They not only serve our students, faculty and staff, but also provide opportunities for additional revenue streams that allow us to continue to carry out our academic mission.
No doubt, these cuts are significant. At the same time, as a university, we are approaching them as strategically as possible, while also looking at other creative and entrepreneurial ways (such as the Tri-State Initiative which is alive and well) to generate revenue so that we can continue to provide an outstanding education at UW-Platteville.

Sincerely,

Dr. Wayne Weber
Dean, College of BILSA