A Growth Agenda for Wisconsin
Opinions and Editorials
"Keep UW engineer expansion in budget," Column, as published in the Post-Crescent, April 17, 2009.
Mark Guard could have been one of many jobless workers included in Green Bay's 11.9 percent unemployment rate. Thanks in part to a pioneering collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley and UW-Platteville, Guard is a well-paid engineer at Schneider National...The ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering program offered by UW-Platteville entirely on the two-year UW-Fox Valley campus in Menasha allowed Guard to earn his degree without leaving his home or moving his family...I recently provided testimony to the state Legislature's Joint Finance Committee about the importance of preparing our state for a brighter economic future by increasing the number of engineers throughout Wisconsin...(Author: Brad Hansen, president and COO of Heartland Business Systems and Avastone Technologies in Little Chute, WI, and vice president of the UW Colleges and UW-Extension Board of Visitors)...
"Investing in the future," Editorial, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 17, 2009.
Gov. Jim Doyle has done his part to kick-start the transformation of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Now, it's up to the state's Building Commission and Legislature...UWM can be that catalyst. And while it's important to remember that the UWM initiatives are only one piece of a long-term strategy for economic growth in the region, they are an important piece. Increased research at UWM could help both existing businesses and new ones become more competitive...
"Initiatives needed to create more jobs," Editorial, Green Bay Press-Gazette, March 10, 2009.
In a season of alarming news, few bits of information are as alarming as word that the Green Bay unemployment rate has climbed into double digits. It's time to be mustering energy to get people back to work...This is the time for secondary schools like Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and St. Norbert College to shine in their role as innovative leaders for job training and other business development programs...
"Don't skim from UW to balance budget," Editorial, Sheboygan Press, March 6, 2009.
Gov. Jim Doyle should rethink his plan to require the University of Wisconsin to transfer money from private donations to help balance the state budget...We have no problem with the UW shouldering its share of the state's budget woes. But Doyle also wants the UW to set aside about $11 million from gifts and donations made to UW foundations. Not surprisingly, UW officials aren't too happy with Doyle's budget-balancing act...
"A model for growth," Editorial, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 12, 2009.
Academic research is a $1.1 billion enterprise in the state of Wisconsin, but the state and its businesses should be getting more bang for the buck from all that brain power. University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly said last week that his Research to Jobs task force would examine ways to open new conduits for university research and expertise. Applying The Wisconsin Idea to business growth isn't necessarily easy or seamless, so we're glad that Reilly seems committed to pushing harder to take advantage of the university's knowledge base, especially during this time of economic distress...
"Rebuilding UWM," Editorial, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 8, 2009.
Carlos Santiago's four-year effort to juice academic research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is beginning to pay off, but for the sake of the school and region, there is much more work to do. That requires continued investment with state tax dollars and swift action from Milwaukee County...
"Investing in UW will help our economy," Column as published in the Wausau Daily Herald, Dec. 23, 2008.
Amidst the doom and gloom we hear about the stock market these days, I have some good investment news for Wisconsin taxpayers. Our equity stake in the University of Wisconsin System continues to deliver solid returns. The UW System's Growth Agenda for Wisconsin is a plan to produce more graduates, create well-paying jobs, and strengthen communities where citizens and businesses alike will thrive. With higher incomes and greater economic productivity come a broader tax base and a higher quality of life...(Author: UW System Board of Regents President Mark Bradley)...
Related:"Investments in higher education yield reliable dividends," UW System Board of Regents President Mark Bradley, December 18, 2008
"Regents made right call on UWO building," Editorial, Oshkosh Northwestern, Dec. 10, 2008.
...The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents made the right call in approving further financial support for a long-planned, $48.2 million academic building at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. With fair pressure mounting to scrutinize if not rethink every construction project on the state's to-do list, this one remains a smart and overdue investment for our campus', community's and Wisconsin's future...
"Higher education concept," Editorial, Watertown Daily Times, Oct. 3, 2008.
Wisconsin is traditionally ranked at the top or near the top in the quality of education in its public school districts when compared to those in the other 49 states. In fact, our public school systems in Wisconsin are one of the areas people point to when they consider moving to the state or when businesses and industries consider locating here. But, when we move to the next logical step - post high school education - we drop off some...
"Growing our own," Editorial, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 17, 2008.
The renewed focus on developing entrepreneurs at the Wisconsin School of Business is an important ingredient for a state that needs more home cooking...
"Legislators should recognize the value of higher education," Editorial, La Crosse Tribune, Aug. 8, 2008.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has lost a key environmental researcher to the University of Minnesota.If this was an isolated case, it would be one thing. But this has happened before. And it will happen again as long as salaries for UW campuses do not keep up with peer institutions...
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