Universities of Wisconsin Regent President Kyle Weatherly, UWs Interim President Renée Wachter, and several university leaders announced [on August 12] budget proposals focused on building Wisconsin’s workforce and next generation of businesses.
The Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals represent new initiatives from the UWs’ 2027-29 budget request proposal. The goal is to create 300,000 career-ready workers, upskill 1 million workers for better jobs, and create 2,500 new businesses over a decade.
“The Universities of Wisconsin have long helped Wisconsin address some of its biggest challenges,” Wachter said. “Our budget will offer opportunities to invest in people and education that will help Wisconsin meet its workforce challenges, while providing targeted funds to help grow the next generation of businesses.”
At UW-Milwaukee, Weatherly and Wachter were joined by UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Thomas Gibson, UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank, and UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey to announce the two initiatives. Tech for Tomorrow, Accelerate Wisconsin, and other workforce-oriented proposals seek state investment to allow the UWs to help build Wisconsin’s workforce and next generation of businesses.
Tech for Tomorrow would speed new technologies from the research lab to commercialization while Accelerate Wisconsin would help entrepreneurs create and expand businesses and develop new products and markets. The other proposals include UW for U, which supports continuing education, online learning, and competency-based education, and U Succeed, which provides student supports such as academic and career advising.
“The Universities of Wisconsin play a critical role in developing talent, spurring innovation, and sparking entrepreneurship,” Weatherly said. “This proposal will generate career-ready graduates, speed new technologies to market, and support state entrepreneurs.”
The UW Board of Regents will vote on the full 2027-29 budget proposal next week.
About the Universities of Wisconsin
The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 164,600 students. Awarding more than 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Universities of Wisconsin.
