Wisconsin universities now face the largest budget cuts in their history, even as colleges in other states crawl out of budget holes.
Governor Scott Walker, a possible Republican candidate for president, announced Tuesday a $300 million cut to the 26-campus University of Wisconsin System. The planned cuts will come as a pair of $150 million cuts in each of the next two years.
In exchange for taking away so much money, 13 percent of the higher ed budget, Walker said he wants to give state university officials more independence from state lawmakers.
Wisconsin administrators would likely use their new power to raise prices on students, if only after a two-year tuition freeze expires. Wisconsin universities with name recognition outside of the state will perhaps also seek out more higher-paying students from other states -- and raise prices on them, too.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/28/wisconsin-looks-cut-higher-ed-300m-tries-give-something-return