Chancellor Bob Meyer issued the following statement tonight after Gov. Tony Evers sent the Legislature his 2019-21 state budget:

“The 2019-21 state budget proposal that Gov. Evers sent to the Legislature Thursday, Feb. 28, is a positive first step for our institutions in receiving the state support we need to continue to provide a quality education for our students.

“The budget includes a $43.69 million funding increase for 2019-20 and another $65.99 million increase for the second year of the biennium. The governor also wants the UW System to get $40.4 million over the biennium to pay for its share of a proposed pay increase: a 2 percent increase on July 1; and another 2 percent on July 1, 2020.

“Of the new money, UW-Stout would benefit by sharing a $45 million increase for so-called ‘capacity building’ initiatives. UW-Stout has submitted a proposal, costing in excess of $800,000, to add faculty in computer science, computer networking and applied mathematics; expand engineering programs; and allow our Career Services office to create more internship and co-op experiences.

“The campus also would share in a $50.4 million allocation to replace money that would be lost by continuing the tuition freeze for another two years.

“I thank Gov. Evers for making the UW System a priority in his first budget. The governor’s proposals certainly align with our priorities, and they would help us continue to produce graduates that are so valued in the workplace they have a 98.2 percent employment rate in the year after leaving campus.

“Going forward, we will continue to make the case with legislators for increased wages for our faculty and staff and additional funding to ensure that we continue to provide a quality education for our students, thereby growing Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, improving lives and providing Wisconsin residents with a chance to earn higher wages.”

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