UWM is a public institution that operates within the state of Wisconsin’s two-year, biennial budget cycle. UW System negotiates its budget with the executive and legislative branches of state government. When new funds are either projected or made available to campuses, budget building starts at the department/college level with recommendations forwarded to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for review and final approval by the Chancellor. UW System administration and the Board of Regents then review, approve and forward the System budget to the Governor. Legislative review and passage, and the Governor’s approval, precede the finalized budget.
The University’s current operating budget of $429.4 million includes $38.1 million for research and $115.4 million in federal aid, grants, and contracts, and supports a total workforce of 4,307 employees, including 777 faculty, 496 instructional academic staff, 934 administrative staff, 952 graduate assistants, and 1,148 classified personnel. State support for the institution increased for the first four of the past five years, but declined from $137.7 million to $126.3 million in 2003-04. A significant increase in tuition (18%) was approved to offset a portion of the reduction.
The campus has 68 buildings totaling more than 5.3 million square feet. An aggressive $130 million building program over the last decade provided new facilities to support academic programs in business, architecture, performing arts and the sciences, as well as student housing. Construction totaling $53 million is underway for biological sciences renovation and the Klotsche Center addition, which will provide additional space for intramural and recreational activities, the Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine (Athletic Training) programs, intercollegiate athletics and parking.
The University has outstanding facilities and collections that support its academic programs. For example, the Schools of Architecture and Urban Planning and Business Administration are housed in state-of-the-art buildings. The Great Lakes WATER Institute provides excellent facilities and support for freshwater research and protection. The Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts has become one of the region’s premier performance spaces.
The main campus, sometimes referred to as the Kenwood campus, is compact, with all buildings within easy walking distance of each other. On the north end of campus is an 11-acre nature conservancy, the Downer Woods. Near the Kenwood campus are the Alumni House and Hefter Conference Center. Several other UWM facilities not adjacent to the main campus are:
