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It figures that if anyone can improve that relationship for the good of Wisconsin, the folks in the La Crosse area would show the way.
The Board of Regents on Friday unanimously approved the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Growth, Quality and Access plan.
The plan means UW-L will be able to add 500 students, more than 75 faculty and 20 staff members within five years.
That means more graduates to fuel our economy, and more faculty and staff to call the 7 Rivers Region home.
The plan adds $500 to the annual tuition of each new undergraduate student in the 2008-2009 academic year and an additional $500 beginning the following year.
Tuition increases are never desired, but remember there is a supply-and-demand issue here: UW-L receives more than four applications for every seat in the freshman class. In the UW System, it trails only Madison in retention and graduation rates. And, it graduated more than 800 more students from 2001 to 2004 than any of its peers — never mind it has fewer students than several other campuses.
And, remember that, until the budget that was recently approved, UW-L had suffered $6.3 million in cuts in the three previous budget cycles.
But, maybe the best story about this plan is how it brought legislators, students and faculty, business leaders and other members of our community together to show creativity, unity and passion for our university and its importance to the 7 Rivers Region.
On Thursday, our entire legislative delegation was represented at a Board of Regents committee meeting to show support.
Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse and a UW-L alum, gave her passionate support. So did a representative of
Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, also a UW-L alum.
But perhaps most striking was the presence and vocal support of Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem.
To say that UW-L’s plans haven’t exactly been the darling of Huebsch’s caucus would be an understatement.
But, there was the speaker Thursday, front and center, praising Chancellor Joe Gow, his students and the rest of the campus and business community for going the extra mile — then some — to convince the folks in Madison that the plan has broad support.
“This has been a model of cooperation,” Huebsch said.
Did we mention the extra mile?
It’s about 140 miles to Madison, and Chancellor Gow, his colleagues and students have made the trip a number of times to meet with opponents and supporters alike to explain why increasing the number of students, faculty and staff at UW-L is great for our region and great for Wisconsin.
It also helps that we have a strong advocate in Regent Brent Smith of La Crosse. For too many years, our part of Wisconsin had no representation on the Board of Regents.
While the UW-L growth plan has changed over the years, it’s also important to praise the person who thought up this entrepreneurial approach and pushed it tirelessly — Doug Hastad, the former chancellor who now is president of Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis.
For many years, our legislative delegation has checked its R’s and D’s at the Statehouse door when it comes to pushing for issues that clearly help the La Crosse area.
The unified appearance Thursday of Huebsch, Schilling and Kapanke speaks volumes about what collaboration can accomplish.
Regent President Mark Bradley put it into perspective when he said: “It is quite unusual that a local legislative delegation takes this much interest in a campus issue. And not only takes interest but immerses themselves in the details.”
But President Bradley knows full well that this isn’t just any legislative delegation. He also knows that UW-L certainly isn’t just another campus.
And, with increased funding, a unified campus and strong regional support, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will continue to provide a world-class education at a bargain price as it enters its second century of excellence.
