Universities of Wisconsin campuses in need of increased revenue, new budget

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) – Some Universities of Wisconsin campuses are struggling with enrollment numbers, but at UW-Stevens Point, enrollment has been going up on the main campus for the last three years.

With an increase in enrollment comes added revenue.

Universities of Wisconsin President and Wausau native Jay Rothman is asking Governor Tony Evers to approve an additional $457 million for the 2025-27 school year for Wisconsin to grow in ranking for national public funding.

Wisconsin currently ranks 43rd out of 50 states for national public funding. Rothman says he knows tuition and other college expenses are going up for students across the state.

This new budget could eliminate some of those concerns.

“Whether that be career advising, whether that be academic advising, mental health services, funding for internships and undergraduate research, all which help with retention,” Rothman said.

He says this is something the state should address sooner than later.

“This reflects at least a decade of neglect for our university system, and we think Wisconsin deserves better than that,” Rothman said. “More importantly, the citizens and the residents deserve better than that.”

If approved, this new budget wouldn’t happen until next year. However, UWSP will see a more than seven percent increase this year thanks to an influx of students.

With this new budget, they have plans for this school year and beyond.

“We’re also providing a new online option for our MBA program in decision-making and leadership,” USWP Chancellor Thomas Gibson said. “We’re equally as excited about our new Master of Social Work, which will launch next summer.”

Part of the university’s agenda is to grow beyond the state.

“We’re seeking to attract additional numbers of international students, and we partnered with a third-party vendor that’s going to support us in a number of these different markets, and that work actually begins this fall,” Gibson explained.

Another focus is leaning toward growing bachelor’s degree programs, not associate degree programs, as well as keeping students engaged in the classroom.

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