From the Wisconsin State Journal: It’s never easy to justify a big jump in tuition.
But UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin has made a compelling case for a significant increase over the next four years to keep Wisconsin’s flagship university strong.
The UW Board of Regents should support Martin’s plan, which student leaders endorsed last week. Read the full editorial.
From the Badger Herald: Immediately after University of Wisconsin Chancellor Biddy Martin unveiled her Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, it was apparent the plan, though fundamentally sound, needed a bit of refining. There were many aspects of the proposal that needed to be clarified to students and many more that needed justification. After a month, though the initiative hasn’t been completely fleshed out, we believe the argument has been sufficiently well-made and that the initiative is a necessary step for UW to not only maintain but also to improve its standing in academia. Read the full editorial.
From the Badger Herald: The Associated Students of Madison’s Student Council voted to endorse Chancellor Biddy Martin’s Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, which will raise student tuition and provide additional aid and services. Read the full story.
From the Daily Cardinal: The Associated Students of Madison voted to fully endorse the Wisconsin Initiative for Undergraduates Wednesday despite uncertainties about student support.The initiative, drafted by Chancellor Biddy Martin, would raise tuition to increase financial aid and academic support. According to Martin, the initiative would help UW-Madison remain competitive with other Big Ten schools. It will go before the Board of Regents May 7-8. Read the full story.
“Over the past month, our remarkable students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents, have engaged in a lively discussion of the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates. Together, we have had wide-ranging and productive exchanges about the quality of the institution, access to courses and need-based financial aid, the future of student services and ways to create a new partnership between our students and donors.
Tonight, I am deeply grateful for the full support of the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Student Council. We have worked collaboratively to enhance the proposal, ensuring student participation in the process as well as in the oversight of the initiative.” Read the full statement.
From the Badger Herald: The Wisconsin Alumni Association announced its endorsement of the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates Tuesday, adding one last vote of support before the finalized proposal goes before the Associated Students of Madison tonight.
“We think it’s a very smart plan, an important investment in undergraduate education,” WAA President and CEO Paula Bonner said. “We just wanted to make sure, as an organization, the students and the regents knew the association supported it.” Read the full story.
From the Badger Herald: With the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates proposal scheduled to be sent to University of Wisconsin System officials Thursday, Chancellor Biddy Martin sent an e-mail to students last week updating them on the direction the initiative is taking.
The e-mail outlined several updates to the proposal, which was originally announced March 24. The updates concern common questions asked by students and details on the parts of the proposal that have been deemed especially important or were added after its initial unveiling. Read the full story.
From the Badger Herald: Have you seen your adviser lately? Who are these people anyway?
Each student on campus has an assigned adviser, typically depending on whom you saw at SOAR. Unfortunately, many students fail to fully appreciate and use this important resource. The value of advising cannot be underestimated. Read the full column.
From the Badger Herald: Chancellor Biddy Martin’s tuition surcharge plan is called the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, but the big winners are graduate students.
By now, the details are well-known. Undergraduate tuition rises faster than normal for the next four years. Half of the new money goes to expand financial aid; the rest goes to opening more sections of bottleneck courses and better student services. Read the full column.
From the New York Times: Faced with one of the most challenging fund-raising environments anyone can remember, colleges and universities are appealing to donors to help meet the swelling demand for financial aid.
Using such demand “as a fund-raising tool totally makes sense in this environment,” said Richard J. Krasney, a wealth manager and philanthropy adviser. “More than ever, people want to know that their money is being used to address current needs.” Read the full story.