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"They Have Lost Their Way"
One Wisconsin Republican says there is no way the University of Wisconsin can repeat the last decade.
Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, said new numbers from the university show that the UW added thousands of employees and nearly doubled its payroll, all while losing more than 15,000 students
"This data shows UW continues to protect its own bureaucracy at the expense of students. The challenge for Wisconsin remains cutting its bureaucracy and investing in the programs that best provide for our modern workforce, such as engineering and nursing degrees," Wimberger said. " I recognize that waste and bloat are inherent in bureaucracies. UW’s future rests on its ability to provide more value to our students and our state."
The data, from UW-System, shows that “"from 2014 to 2024, the number of academic staff grew by 33.4%, with a 97.4% increase in salary expenditures over that time. Similarly, the number of limited appointees – specially-appointed staff who serve in administrative capacities – rose by 39%...with their payroll expenses growing by 78.3%.”
The data comes as lawmakers are working to craft a new state budget, and as the University is asking for more money.
The UW is asking for an additional $855 million from the state. Wimberger said that would be on top of the nearly $7 billion that the university spends each year.
But the request for extra money also comes as Republicans at the Capitol continue to criticize political correctness and progressive attitudes on UW campuses.
“In the last 10 years, the UW System has lost some 16,000 enrolled students but added thousands of non-classroom employees whose salaries cost hundreds of millions of dollars per year,” Wimberger added. “While the Universities of Wisconsin do a lot of good for our state, they have lost their way and are mired in breathtaking administrative bloat, wasteful spending, and discriminatory practices under the guise of DEI.”
Editor's note: A previous version of this story said the UW's numbers came from a state audit. The numbers came from the university, and have not yet been verified by state auditors.
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