LAWMAKER WANTS 2 AND 4 YEAR CAMPUSES MERGED
Thursday, March 3rd, 2005 -- 12:30 PM
By Bob Hague, Wisonsin Radio NetworkA state lawmaker proposes "partnering" two and four year UW campuses.
State Representative Rob Kreibich (R-Eau Claire) made his case Wednesday, before a joint hearing of Assembly and Senate committees. "This is an opportunity to dialogue about ways to maybe more efficiently deliver higher education, to eliminate administrative duplication, and ultimately up the number of our residents who own four year degrees."
Kriebich said that recent transfer agreements between agreements between the state's tech colleges and four year campuses are making the two year campuses obsolete.
UW System President, Kevin Reilly, said he believes the communities where the two year center campuses are located, would like to see more four year and graduate degrees.
"I'm in favor of that, I think we can do that," said Reilly. "I don't know that to do that, we need to make the two year campuses satellites of the four year campuses."
With an operating budget of 300 million fewer state dollars than just three years ago, Kreibich maintains Wisconsin can no longer afford to separately operate 26 four year universities and two year colleges.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.