As faculty leaders in research and discovery at UW-Madison, we are writing to share our support for the additional flexibility that Chancellor Martin has been seeking through the New Badger Partnership.
We are committed to helping the university maintain its standard of excellence in providing the best education possible to our students, performing ground breaking research and serving the citizens of Wisconsin and the world through our outreach programs. To continue the level of accomplishment and achievement that has long been the hallmark of this institution, we agree with Chancellor Martin that significant administrative flexibilities in the areas of procurement, purchasing, employee compensation, tuition management and construction are necessary.
Each of us can point to multiple examples over the years—in our own departments and centers and across the campus—where greater independence from state bureaucratic processes would have increased our competitiveness and efficiency in research and other areas. Faculty and staff bring in about one billion dollars of research investments to Wisconsin, generate an economic impact equal to several billion dollars and provide continuing education to more than 100,000 professionals each year. With state funding certain to diminish, it is more important than ever for the university to have increased administrative flexibility so that we can to continue to have this measure of impact.
Even in difficult budgetary times, the state can continue to invest in its flagship university by providing the types of flexibilities sought by Chancellor Martin. We seek your enthusiasm and support for the major impact this initiative will embody, and encourage the Governor, the Legislature and UW System to help us realize the goals of the New Badger Partnership, for the benefit of our students and Wisconsin.
