MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday approved investments for projects at the Universities of Wisconsin (UW).
Among the projects being funded is the UW-Madison engineering building project, which leaders have been advocating for as a top priority.
“Investing in Wisconsin’s world-class higher education institutions, including our UW System, is critical for doing what’s best for our kids and helping us recruit, train, and retain talented students to help address the workforce challenges that have plagued our state for generations,” said Evers in a press release. “If we want to build a strong workforce and economy that are prepared to meet the needs of the 21st Century, then investing in public education—from early childhood to our higher education institutions—must be a top priority.”
The measure is part of a deal Republican lawmakers cut with UW regents in December that limits diversity positions across the UW system in exchange for money to cover staff pay raises and construction projects.
The bill transfers $423.3 million from the state's general fund to the capital improvement fund and authorizes $110.2 million in borrowing to build a new engineering building at UW-Madison, renovate dorms at UW-Whitewater and heating and cooling plants across the system and fund demolition work.
Evers had previously proposed investments to the engineering building at UW-Madison within his 2023-25 budget. However, those efforts were rejected by Republicans in the legislature. In a special September session last year, Evers tried again to secure funding for that project and about $100 million high education institutions in the state. Republicans altered the plan and Evers later vetoed the measure, saying they had “gutted” the bill.
The new engineering building is expected to provide more space for about 1,000 more engineering students to graduate each year, according to UW-Madison leaders.
In a statement, UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said approval of the building is "a tremendous step forward" for the campus," saying it comes "at a time when Wisconsin employers urgently need more engineers." Mnookin said the project will help the university be able to do "innovative, life-changing research."
The bill signed Wednesday also included changes that allow UW to retain net revenue that’s generated by students from Minnesota who attend UW schools.
The approved funding builds on other recent efforts by the Evers administration, including a bill signed last month that would create a guaranteed admission program for high school top-performers.