Despite four out of five satisfactory grades in the National Center on Public Policy and Higher Education's 2006 Measuring Up report released Thursday, the UW System received an ‘F' in affordability, raising concerns among state legislators and the Board of Regents.
The failing grade is common, however, as the NCPPHE gave 43 of 50 states an F in the category, with the University of California System capturing the highest grade: a C-minus.
According to UW System Communications Director Doug Bradley, lower per capita state incomes, state budgets, declining support for the university and financial aid packages all contributed to UW's affordability problem.
State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, concurred.
""It has been a struggle with the Republican-controlled legislature,"" Pocan said. ""They try to find ways to attack [the university], whether it be a part-time university professor or other actions,"" Pocan continued, referring to 2005 revelations that convicted felons were employed by the university.
But according to state Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, the Board of Regents is pricing students out of higher education opportunities and trying to blame the state Legislature. Suder said the UW System is the third-highest recipient of state budget funding, after K-12 public education and medical assistance.
""If you look at the amount of funding, the third highest in the entire state budget is a huge chunk of change,"" Suder said. ""And frankly, they should quit whining.""
Suder criticized how the Board of Regents utilizes state-wide funding, listing a $26 million computer system ""that doesn't work,"" $700 per month automobile stipends and ""lavish"" Regent salaries and parties as reasons for lofty tuition prices.
Regent President David Walsh said the UW has always been a ""low-tuition, low-aid system,"" meaning tuition is lower than other state universities, but aid is lower, as well, and has not increased in recent years.
""We've always been below our peers, but we've kind of creeped up a bit because we got cut $290 million,"" Walsh said. ""We need increased resources, but the legislature is strangling us.""
Tuition increases began in the 2000-'02 biennial budget, with a $60 million cut. In the 2002-'04 budget, state deficits forced a $250 million cut.
Bradley said the Regents have high hopes for making UW higher education more affordable in the future. The plan: the Wisconsin Covenant, a program that aims to reduce costs and increase preparation of Wisconsin youth for college.
But Pocan said the Covenant is a program that will not succeed without adequate state funding.
""We certainly do not want to become an institution that is attended by those that can afford to, rather than those that have earned to,"" Pocan said.
