Other budget recommendations for UW

The state’s 1999-2001 budget plan contains a number of other recommendations that would affect UW–Madison faculty, staff and students. For example, the budget measure would exempt UW faculty and academic staff from the $12,000 dual employment cap if they are employed by a second UW campus. And the UW Board of Regents would get broader spending authority.

Other systemwide initiatives include:

$4.9 million to hire additional student information technology workers and to provide training to new and existing student IT workers.
$7.3 million for libraries. The money would allow purchase of additional electronic information resources, expand library acquisitions and expand document delivery service.
$2 million to create a need-based study abroad grant program for undergraduates as part of an international education initiative.
$2 million in tuition for 28.5 positions to enhance undergraduate academic and career advising.
$732,600 to expand pre-college programs for minority and economically disadvantaged high school students.
Increases of 6 in each year for the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant program for UW students.

Other UW budget proposals include:

$2 million in state tax money for the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention to develop educational programs designed to discourage tobacco use, determine the most effective smoking prevention strategies and expand smoking cessation programs throughout the state.
$140,000 for statewide implementation of the Early Math Placement Test and $250,000 to support the development of an Early Writing Assessment Project.
$400,000 in state tax money transferred from the Medical College of Wisconsin to UW System’s Area Health Education Centers appropriation.
$1 million in state tax money to support creation of a non-profit venture capital company by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to invest in biotechnology projects, and create a position in the state Department of Commerce to facilitate science and technology transfer between the university and private entrepreneurs.

All numbers listed in the proposal above are totals over the two-year budget period. State taxes cover 65 percent and tuition pays for 35 percent unless otherwise noted. Additional budget details will become available once the governor’s recommendations are introduced as a bill in the Legislature.