Chancellors from 13 UW System schools sent a letter Wednesday to state legislators asking for support on the Wisconsin Idea Partnership in the 2011-'13 biennial budget.
The proposed partnership would include keeping UW-Madison in the UW System. That goes against Chancellor Biddy Martin's proposed New Badger Partnership, which Gov. Scott Walker included in his budget proposal.
A summary of the bill, attached to the letter, said UW-Madison would still get the flexibility Martin seeks, but within the framework of the UW System.
The chancellors said Wisconsin universities will need to deal with $250 million in proposed cuts to funding in Walker's budget.
""More than ever, that flexibility is needed to preserve broad access to a high-quality UW education,"" the chancellors said in the letter.
The UW System Board of Regents passed a resolution in support of the Idea Partnership at their meeting March 10.
