Madison Initiative: Targeting 5 areas

The Madison Initiative will target five key areas for investment over the next fours years:

1. Recruit and retain key faculty
   The university proposes to hire more than 100 new faculty in targeted areas over the next four years to maintain UW–Madison’s reputation as one of the top public universities in the nation.

   To demonstrate commitment to the state for this new public-private partnership, UW–Madison authorized the hiring of 32 new faculty members last year with private funds, and 16 of them are now on campus teaching and conducting research. Several more will begin teaching over the next 12 months.

   This is important not only to UW–Madison graduates looking for jobs but also to the state, which attracts business based in part on having a world-class university located in Wisconsin. More than 150 companies have been spun off from campus research done by faculty members.

   Faculty hired over the next five to seven years will play a crucial role in maintaining academic quality at UW–Madison. In a national market, UW compensation must be competitive.

2. Enhance research and instructional initiatives
   In the final two years, introductory biotechnology courses will be expanded to meet the increasing demand for biology instruction (about 25 percent of undergraduates are majoring in the biological sciences).

   Instructional labs in several facilities are being upgraded for undergraduate students taking science courses.

   Funding will be used to purchase biological science databases and related site licenses.

3. Strengthen advising, libraries, and instructional technology
   Funding for libraries will be used for acquiring additional electronic resources, expanding library acquisitions and expanding document delivery service.

   Other funding will be used to add instructional technology workers and provide training to new and existing student IT workers; create a need-based study abroad grant program for undergraduates; enhance undergraduate academic and career advising; and expand pre-college programs for minority and economically disadvantaged high school students.

4. Increase financial aid to students
   Additional financial aid will ensure that all undergraduates eligible for need-based grants are held harmless from any tuition increase associated with this proposal.
5. Renovate and maintain buildings
   Funding for preventive maintenance, reconditioning and energy conservation will be used to ensure that the university’s existing facilities are well-maintained, which will result in savings to the state and taxpayers.