OSHKOSH, Wis. – Today, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced their plans to adjust workforce to make up an $18 million dollar shortfall. This will include continued early retirement options, intermittent furloughs this fall, followed by a few hundred layoffs of non-faculty staff and administrator. Rep. Palmeri released the following statement:
“Today, an announcement was made that the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will be taking a number of steps to address an unprecedented $18 million budget shortfall. This deficit is a result of long-term systematic underfunding of the UW system and more recently, underfunding in the 2023-2025 biennial budget, along with continued reduction in student enrollment,” stated Rep. Palmeri.
“Both public k-12 and UW-Systems have struggled to make ends meet with state funding that does not match inflation rates all Wisconsinites are facing today. Unfortunately, if this pattern of underfunding in education continues, UW-Oshkosh will not be the only university forced to make sacrifices like those announced today. It is expected that by the end of the summer of 2024, 10 of the UW System’s 13 campuses will be facing a combined $60 million deficit.
“I have had a conversation with Chancellor Leavitt and look forward to working with UW Oshkosh to minimize impact. I am committed to assisting impacted community members in the weeks and months ahead,” said Palmeri.
“We need more partners in the legislature that value higher education enough to commit the funds needed for a healthy UW System.”
