GOP budget committee releases $32 million previously withheld from UW campuses during diversity dispute
One of the last pieces in a sweeping deal between the University of Wisconsin System and the state Legislature was approved Thursday, moving campuses one step closer to the end of an extended and contentious state budget session.
The GOP-controlled budget-writing committee released $32 million to UW System — the same amount it had withheld from UW's budget eight months earlier as part of a broader campaign against campus diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Republican lawmakers previously estimated $32 million was about what campuses spent on salaries of DEI employees over a two-year period. The temporary cut sparked a standoff that lasted until December when Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, and UW System President Jay Rothman came to an agreement on DEI, pay raises and more.
Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee accused Republicans of holding UW hostage.
"It was communicated publicly that this delay was created to remove resources from certain students," Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, said of Republicans' negotiations. He said many people were affected by the delay "for ultimately what amounts to a political point."
Committee co-chair Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, painted the mandate directing resources from one area of campus to another as routine.
"We've taken this money out that was being wasted and wanted to focus on workforce (development)," he said. "That's the decision that was made, and that's what we challenged them to do."
Campuses will use the $32 million to bolster programs in nursing, computer science, business and engineering. UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee will each get $5 million over the next two years. UW officials have said the plan would add more than 9,300 graduates in the four areas over a five-year period.
"As Wisconsin faces significant workforce challenges, our universities will continue to support investments in the state’s largest talent generator," Rothman said on social media after the 15-0 vote. "We are thankful that the legislature recognizes our critical role in developing student talent. Restoring these funds will further produce the talent that all of Wisconsin needs to prosper."
Here's what remains in the deal:
UW-Madison engineering building
The Legislature last week approved about $740 million in building projects, including a new engineering building at UW-Madison. The project was the top priority across all campuses and would allow the flagship school to graduate about 1,000 more engineers annually.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contacted every lawmaker in fall and found there was widespread support for the project despite Republicans' refusal to fund it until the UW System made concessions on DEI.
The bill still needs Gov. Tony Evers' approval. His spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Evers is likely to sign it into law because he included the project in his own request.
Tweaks to Wisconsin-Minnesota tuition reciprocity
Also last week, the Legislature passed a bill that will change where money from Wisconsin's tuition reciprocity agreement with Minnesota is housed. The change will provide campuses with additional funding.
Evers' spokesperson didn't respond to a question about his support for this bill.
Top 5% guaranteed admissions at UW-Madison
Evers has signed into law a bill mandating UW-Madison admit the top 5% of Wisconsin students in each high school class. The same principle of guaranteed admission applies to the top 10% of Wisconsin students in each high school class for other UW campuses.
UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said the university already admits about 95% of the students who would be guaranteed admission through the top 5%.
Pay raises for all UW System employees
Lawmakers approved raises for other state employees last fall but wage bumps for about 35,000 UW System employees became a sticking point in the negotiation.
After the deal was negotiated, a joint legislative committee approved raises for non-unionized UW employees late last year. Those in the building trades collective bargaining units received raises after Evers signed a bill into law earlier this year.
The raises include a 4% increase backdated to July 1, 2023, and a 2% increase to take effect this July.
Freeze on UW positions and DEI restructuring
The deal requires the UW System to freeze the total number of jobs across UW System through 2026, with exceptions for faculty and staff who directly support students or research. UW also must restructure 43 DEI positions to serve in roles supporting the success of all students.
Among universities' other obligations:
Remove diversity statements from the student application process
Develop a mandatory online orientation on free speech for incoming students
Seek donor money to fund a UW-Madison faculty position focused on conservative political thought.
"Is it a perfect deal?" Rothman said last month at a Milwaukee Press Club event. "No, I'm not going to tell you it's a perfect deal. I think anytime you negotiate a deal — and I've spent 35 years of my career negotiating deals — and you understand when you get done, you're never going to get everything you want. You're always going to look at it and say, well, there's some pluses and some minuses. I looked at this and said on balance for the (UW System) this was the right thing to do."
Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at [email protected] or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW System receives $32 million it lost last summer amid DEI fight