Education, Politics, Unions: Oh My

First of all, let me preface this posting by saying that I do not profess to know much about the details of what is included in the proposed budget repair bill, nor do I know much about the history of Wisconsin state politics or the relationship between the state and its employee unions. So rather than take a position for or against Governor Walker's proposal, I am going to do something truly radical: Propose something myself! While I know that I will undoubtedly incorporate stances from both sides of the aisle, I dont know enough about the bill itself to position myself accurately and I think it makes more sense to just throw my wisdom out there and let the chips fall where they may. Anyway, here we go:

One thing that I am optimistic about with this university that I was the cause of worry for me last year at UCLA is the desire of the UW to help itself. This union issue aside (as I truly feel it should be-it no doubt has an impact on University employees and thus the University itself, but it is a separate issue from the maintenance of the UW's viability in an era of declining state funding), UW-Madison is willing to do what it takes to maintain a superior level of academic excellence in the absence of state funds.

Enhance fundraising efforts? Look at the UW Foundation! Look at the naming gift at the business school. The school was challenged to ramp up their efforts on the fundraising end and they responded by doing just that.

Increase tuition? Well, if forced to, the school has proven they can do so in the most responsible manner possible. Rather than going through the hoopla seen last year in California and elsewhere, the UW simply slid an email through that informed students of the modest increase, at the same time launching a very public "Great People" Scholarship campaign designed to ensure that these tuition increases wouldn't inhibit access among those unable to afford the high cost of higher education.

Whatever it takes to get things done and get them done right, UW-Madison has proven that it is more than capable. So rather than worrying about saving state funding (ehem, UC's? Just a thought), the University has focused its lobbying efforts on achieving greater autonomy as an institution. Taking the approach successfully undergone by institutions like the University of Michigan, UNC, and UVA, UW-Madison is simply asking the state for a little freedom in exchange for the added burden of financial responsibility being placed upon them.

Not only would this autonomy allow the state to not worry about the adverse impact of cutting UW funding, but more importantly, autonomy allows UW-Madison to become truly one of the great public institutions in the nation. It is certainly no coincidence that the 3 autonomous public institutions named above also happen to reside among the ranks of the top universities in the US, public or private.

While the school's fundraising efforts have suffered in recent years, dropping from 2nd in the nation (only being Stanford) in 2005 to just 12th last year, that drop is in large part due to the economy, the war being waged at the Capitol, and the change in leadership that saw former Business School Dean Michael Knetter take the reins of the foundation in the latter portion of the year.

With the economy seemingly on the slow crawl back to the top, solid leadership back in place, only the state remains in the way as a barrier to UW-Madison's ability to prove itself once again capable of being just fine on its own.

Again, I dont know much about the specifics in Governor Walker's budget proposal and as much as I hate it, I would venture to say that my proposal agrees in many respects. But the bottom line is that bureaucracy is never beneficial for an educational institution. Having the state play a role, especially when that role includes ever decreasing amounts of financial support, is a barrier to progress for the UW and especially for its flagship campus here in Madison.

Take a look at UVA, UNC, and as much as we hate to do it, Michigan. By removing the state from the equation, these schools have been able to weather the financial "perfect storm" that has plagued public universities nationwide. Give this university the chance to do the same and I assure you, the Badger community will find a way not only to get by, but to succeed in the process.