Milwaukee, Madison chancellors cautiously optimistic on UW System funding, autonomy

MILWAUKEE — UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone said that prior to last week’s release of revenue projections, he was “guardedly optimistic” about seeing a reduction to the $300 million in cuts Walker proposed to the UW System.

During a WisPolitics luncheon in Milwaukee yesterday, Mone said he’s not sure if legislators can find extra money to reduce cuts to the UW System but that he’s staying optimistic that the blow can be softened.

“I do think that the conversations we have had, and if you look at the polls out there in support for the UW System, people realize the vitality that we bring and recognize the vitality of the institution,” Mone said.

UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said if the ultimate cut is less, she doubts it will be much less.

“Like every political process I’ve ever engaged in, I think we’re going to win some things, and I think there are some things that are not going to go how we’d particularly like,” Blank said.

The UW-Madison chancellor said she’s still pushing to win some forms of autonomy. She specifically cited building projects where the funding is completely from private donors but has to go through state scrutiny.

“It makes me go through a process in which every single step has to be approved by the state,” Blank said. “It makes no sense at all that I should have that constraint on me, and what I almost think is a misuse of my donated money when I have to take longer and pay more with buildings that people donated to me.”

Mone agrees that management flexibilities would have a positive effect in running his campus.

“We’ve asked for these for decades,” Mone said. “How we hire, our pay plans, processes that could be created. There’s an awful lot of flexibilities that could allow us to operate in a more efficient manner.”

Listen to audio from the luncheon

— By Jordyn Noennig