It should be no surprise the Chair of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional district would have the best rundown of the conservative rundown of rural universities. As well as being quite the orator, William Garcia is an educator and community organizer in Southwestern Wisconsin. Listen to the episode or read the recap below, but first some context:
The closures are part of a broader trend within the University of Wisconsin System, where several campuses, including those in Waukesha and Washington County, have faced significant enrollment declines and financial challenges. For instance, the Waukesha campus has seen a more than 65% drop in enrollment from 2014 to 2023. This has forced the UW System to make difficult decisions, like closing campuses to stay financially viable, despite the disruptions it causes to students and the community (WPR) (UW-Milwaukee).
The UW System is attempting to mitigate these effects by offering pathways for affected students to continue their education at other campuses or through online programs. For example, students at the Waukesha campus have options to transfer to the main Milwaukee campus or pursue degrees online. There are also plans to develop a new university center at Waukesha County Technical College, which will provide some continuity for students (UW-Milwaukee) (BizTimes – Milwaukee Business News).
RECAP:
“Why are Wisconsin public universities collapsing financially?” from “The Democratic Voice” discusses the financial challenges facing the University of Wisconsin System. It highlights that about half of the universities in the system are financially troubled, projecting a collective debt of $254.9 million by fiscal year 2028 if current funding levels persist. The episode criticizes the state legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, for not increasing funding or staff salaries and for withholding $32 million earmarked for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In response, Democratic Governor Tony Evers included over $300 million in additional funding for the state universities in his budget proposal (Omny Studio).
The financial issues at the UW System are part of a larger trend affecting public universities across the country. Many institutions are grappling with structural deficits due to a mix of reduced state funding, frozen tuition rates, and declines in enrollment. These challenges have forced universities to adopt measures like staff reductions and outsourcing services (WPR). The McKinsey report further suggests that long-term solutions should focus not only on managing costs but also on improving student outcomes and finding innovative ways to increase revenues (McKinsey & Company).
