Lawmakers to meet with UW Regents following "surplus scandal"
MADISON (WITI) -- State lawmakers plan to hold a meeting with UW Regents as a means of repairing the damage of the "surplus scandal." That scandal led to the resignation of UW System President Kevin Reilly and a two-year tuition freeze from across the state's campuses.
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and across the UW System are returning to campus for the first time without a tuition increase.
In effect now, is the first two-year tuition freeze in the four-decade history of the UW System.
The tuition freeze is in place after an audit showed the UW System was sitting on a $648.2 million surplus at a time when university officials complained about budget cuts.
"You can not believe the UW Administration. You can not believe the Regents," State Sen. Glen Grothman said.
This prompted outrage from the state Legislature.
"I cannot see a time when we would say we trust you," State Rep. Robin Vos said.
"How can we look at you in the face?" State Sen. Alberta Darling said.
"What were you thinking?" State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald said.
"I feel like I've been played over the last few months," State Rep. John Nygren said.
"I hear the anger. I think, in many ways, it's justified," Kevin Reilly said.
In June, Gov. Walker announced the two-year tuition freeze.
"What we heard from families is it's affordable, we can adapt for it, we can handle it, but we'd like to have some relief from year to year," Gov. Walker said.
Last month, Reilly resigned, and now, key lawmakers plan to meet with Regents on Thursday, September 5th as a first step toward rebuilding the relationships.
A search committee is looking for a replacement for Reilly.