Two proposals could restructure the University of Wisconsin System in order to alleviate budget pressures.
Rep. Ron Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, and UW System President Kevin Reilly each released plans that would consolidate the UW System and improve efficiency. Kreibich's plan involves merging the 13 two-year campuses with the 13 four-year universities while Reilly's intention is to combine the 13 two-year campuses with the UW Extension.
\The main goal of any plan proposed is that if we're trying to save money, we can't do it by balancing our budgets on student's backs,"" said Rep. Louis Molepske, D-Stevens Point.
In Kreibich's plan, the UW-System's two-year campuses would become branches of its four-year institutions. The new system would improve access by allowing four-year degrees to be offered in more places and would ease credit transfer issues.
""The status quo in Wisconsin's higher education system is unacceptable,"" Kreibich said in a press release. ""Wisconsin is the only state in the country with two separate higher education systems and bureaucracies.""
Kreibich would like to see the chancellor position of the two-year universities eliminated.
The process of pairing each two-year campus with a four-year campus would take place within four years.
Reilly's plan also calls for the elimination of a chancellor position, but through the consolidation of the two-year campuses and the UW Extension. An initial study showed this could save $1.5 million annually through the improved efficiency of administration and human resources.
""The president wants to preserve quality, maintain access and have one of the finest institutions of public higher education in the country,"" said Doug Bradley, director of UW-System communications. ""At the same time, the state is in a budget deficit, but we still want to keep tuition reasonable.""
UW Extension operates offices in all 72 Wisconsin counties, manages public radio and public television, and provides continuing education of both two- and four-year universities.
UW Extension Interim Chancellor Marv Van Kekerix believes the merger would benefit the UW System.
""I think there are some places in which combining some of the strengths of Extension with the strengths of the colleges could lead us to be a stronger institution overall and potentially be better able to deal with some of the needs across the state,"" Van Kekerix said. ""I think those are real possibilities.""
However, this merger might be only the beginning of changes made to the UW System, according to Bradley.
""Our goal is that there could be more to be saved,"" Bradley said. ""At a minimum, we're starting through some of the things that are easiest to consolidate.""
Reilly will present a detailed plan of his proposal to the Board of Regents in early February.
