Q: What is the Madison Initiative?
A: The Madison Initiative is a
four-year investment plan to strengthen UW-Madison as it provides students an outstanding
education and help Wisconsin expand its competitiveness in the global economy.
| State/Students | Alumni/Donors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2001 | $29 million | $20 million | |
| 2001-2003 |
$28 million (requested) |
$20 million (promised) |
|
| Subtotal | $57 million | $40 million * | |
| Total investment | $97 million | ||
|
* The commitment is $40 million over four years, plus $10 million each year beyond that. |
|||
Q: What are the details of the plan?
A: The Madison Initiative is a
highly leveraged public-private partnership. The overall plan calls for an investment of $57
million in new funds from the state and students to be matched by $40 million in private
support, for a total investment of $97 million. The funds will bring UW-Madison to the Big Ten
median in terms of support per student from state tax revenue and tuition.
Q: What has happened with the Madison Initiative so far?
A: The Madison Initiative has
achieved great momentum. Planning for the Madison Initiative began several years ago, and
now the university is already two years into the four-year investment plan. State lawmakers
approved the first $29.2 million for the Madison Initiative in the 1999-2001 state budget.
Alumni and other donors contributed $20 million through the UW Foundation and the
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
Q: What is the current status of this partnership?
A: For the 2001-03 state
budget, the university has requested $28 million, to again be matched with $20 million in
private support, to complete the Madison Initiative. The state funds would enable the
university to leverage new grant money and private giving over and above current levels,
allowing UW-Madison to maintain its margin of excellence as one of the nation's best public
research universities. The governor's 2001-03 proposal of $11.8 million for the second half
of the Madison Initiative is only 42 percent of the $28 million requested. Of that $11.8 million,
83 percent, or $9.8 million, would be funded from student tuition, with the state's share
amounting to 17 percent, or $2 million.
Q: What is the next step?
A: University leaders are
working with the Legislature to restore the full partnership that began with the last budget.
Failure to do so will put at risk the university's ability to raise matching funds from alumni
and donors that have made the Madison Initiative such a successful model for public-private
partnership in higher education today.
Q: What are the priorities of the first phase of the Madison
Initiative?
A: The first phase, now underway, focuses on:
In addition, funds have been invested in academic improvements such as advising, information technology and libraries.
Q: What are the priorities of the second phase of the Madison
Initiative?
A: The second phase of the
initiative -- with the additional funding proposed in the 2001-03 state budget and increased
private giving -- would expand on the priorities of the first phase by:
Q: What inspired the Madison Initiative?
A: The Madison Initiative is
rooted in the university's Vision for the Future, as outlined by former Chancellor David Ward.
The vision includes keeping the best and brightest Wisconsin high school graduates in
Wisconsin; attracting and retaining world-class faculty members; providing a world-class
education for Wisconsin's future leaders; and maintaining Wisconsin's competitiveness in
the global economy.
For more information
Office of State Relations budget
information
Biennial Budget Proposal 2001-03 (UW
System Web site)