The State Senate should stop delaying and pass more than $600,000 for financial aid at UW-La Crosse.
Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, a Democrat, recently delayed a bill that would increase financial aid at the university, which plays a crucial role in Western Wisconsin’s economic development and workforce training.
Decker spokeswoman Carrie Lynch told the La Crosse Tribune the plan to use the funds for financial aid must be reviewed by the Joint Finance Committee like other spending bills.
She denied that politics were behind the delay as some have suggested. State Senator Dan Kapanke, a Republican who represents the La Crosse area, was the latest to accuse Decker of playing politics.
The bill would allow UW-L to use all of the $664,800 for the financial aid portion of its Growth, Quality and Access plan. The money originally was included in the budget, but only $225,400 was allocated for financial aid.
The Assembly has already voted to allow the transfer. The bill needs Senate approval to make it to the governor’s desk, but can’t advance to the Senate without being passed out of the committee.
More than one bill has died in committee over the years. This one should not be allowed to do so.
UW-L has been trying for quite some time to get an overall plan approved. The latest plan is a modified version of UW-L’s Growth and Access proposal that failed to be included in the 2007-09 state budget.
The original request for the overall plan was $15 million, to be funded in part through increased tuition. The State Legislature approved $900,000. Many lawmakers disapproved of the tuition increase request.
That original plan sought to increase enrollment by at least 500 students and hire at least 75 more faculty and 20 other staff within five years.
UW-L has since modified its plan, but argues that additional financial aid for students from low- and middle-income families is needed. It would come from the $664,800 being sought. The aid would offset any tuition increases in many instances and actually allow the student body to grow.
Members of UW-L’s Student Association supported the plan and held surveys in which students also expressed support. The online referendum drew 2,298 responses among 8,295 undergraduate students, who were the only ones polled since they alone will be affected by the plan. The results were 1,877 yes to 421 no.
Although Decker and others deny they are playing politics, the battle over tight university system funds is extremely political. Legislators are lobbied by representatives of every campus. UW-Madison often is treated better than other, smaller campuses in the system.
UW-L out-performs many other campuses — in graduation rates and retention of freshmen — yet it has a very high 24-to-1 ratio of faculty members to students. Other campuses are given greater financial resources by the regents and system administration.
Officials say activity related to the UW-La Crosse campus contributes to a $250 million economic impact on the 7 Rivers Region. Many UW-L grads remain in the area and become business leaders. UW-L also conducts many economic studies that impact the region.
UW-L officials also are aware that any budget requests had better be for “bread and butter” education, and not what might be considered frills. For example, they are raising private funds for a $14 million update to a football stadium. (Even though that stadium also has a positive economic impact by hosting the WIAA state track meet and many other athletic events.)
It’s time for the State Senate to approve the transfer of the funds needed for financial aid. It still will be only a fraction of UW-L’s overall plan for the future, but at least it will be a start.
