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The podcast discusses the importance of state funding for higher education, focusing on the University of Wisconsin system. It explores how economic shifts impact university resources and opportunities. The history of funding for the university is examined, including the introduction of the GV bill post-World War II and budget cuts in the 1980s. State politics heavily influence funding, with policies like tuition raises affecting university resources. The Great Recession of 2008 brought further cuts. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted existing inequalities in funding and emphasized the need for equitable acquisition of resources. Funding divisions often reflect social values and priorities, leading to struggles for certain disciplines. The relationship between education and politics is crucial, as political decisions directly affect funding. Discussions are leaning towards linking budgets more directly to performance outcomes. Collaboration between policymakers, educators, and communiti Hello, everyone. Welcome to Funding Futures. The podcast explores the ever-changing landscape of educational funding and its implications. I'm your host, Yibo, coming to you with insights and stories from the heart of Wisconsin. Today, we embark on the journey to understand how economic shifts shape the resources and opportunities at the university, like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I spent years witnessing these changes first-hand. Join me as we unravel the complex interplay of economics, policy, and education. In today's episode, we dive into the state of Wisconsin, a place renowned for its commitment to public education, but also a battleground for budgetary debates and economic challenges. State funding for higher education plays a pivotal role here. It's not just a line item in a budget. It's a lifeline that supports the growth of institutions, the fostering of young minds, and the research that drives us forward. Let's set the stage by exploring why state funding is crucial and how it has evolved over the years, affected by both local and national economic types. During my years at the university, I experienced firsthand the impact of the changing economics on university funding as a student and a member of student organizations. In my first year, we had a well-funded and lively school organization, program, and event, hosting a great freshman event about exploring the campus. And in the second year, we are faced with several funding cuts, with the school not providing cameras and venues. Everything from research funding to student life would be affected. These fluctuations are more than just the numbers on the budget. The affected students will ensure their research futures, and local businesses feel the ripple effect. Let's take a brief look back at the history of funding for the University of Wisconsin funding system. Post-World War II, the introduction of the GV bill marked a major shift, significantly increasing university accessibility and setting a precedent for federal support in higher education. This era of expansion was followed by economic challenges in 1980, leading to budget cuts and a total decision about which program to assist them. In recent decades, the financial landscape has been heavily influenced by state politics, with shifts of legislature leading to oscillating support for public higher education. Policies like tuition raises have meant to keep education affordable, so they have also strengthened university resources. The Great Recession of 2008 brought further cuts, testing the system's resilience and innovation. These historical fluctuations help us understand the ongoing challenges and the resilience of UW system in navigating economic and political changes, shaping expansion to provide a quality education. In the world of higher education, particularly at the University of Wisconsin system, funding isn't just influenced by educational needs, but is deeply tied to the state's economic health. Economic fluctuations from booms to recessions directly affect the system's financial stability and its ability to serve students. For the sake of clarity, let us look back to the recent past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as highlighted by Rosie, the recession reinforced existing inequalities, impacted low-income students disproportionately. This period underscores the urgent need for strategies and equitable acquisition of resources, not only in times of crisis, but also as an ongoing commitment to upholding the mission of education. This isn't a new challenge. Historical shifts, like those introduced by the GV bill, show us the external economic conditions have long shaped educational opportunities and outcomes. The GV bill transformed access to higher education, setting a precedent for federal and state funding as an expanded opportunity, but also created new challenges in sustaining this enforced economic downturn. The challenges continue today. Funding divisions often reflect border social structures, sometimes prioritizing certain disciplines over others. For example, the struggle to secure adequate funding for race studies or social equity research initiatives at the University of Wisconsin-Madison demonstrates that funding is not only a financial issue, but reflects social values and priorities. As we've seen, the relationship between education and politics provides the foundation for our understanding of the close connection between economic factors and higher education funding. Now, let's step into economic impacts especially affecting the UW system. Politics deeply influenced the funding landscape for the University of Wisconsin system, where decisions made at the state and federal levels have immediate effects on our competencies. Like tuition fees show us the double-edged nature of policy. They keep education affordable but can strengthen sources, impact the quality and reach the programs offered. Political shifts reflect borders to make and ideological changes directly affecting the university's ability to plan long-term and innovate. As political winds shift, so too does funding make each election cycle critical for the future of public universities in Wisconsin. Looking forward, we see potential for skill-efficient changes in how higher education is funded. Discussions are leaning towards linking budgets, allocations more directly to performance outcomes, which could redefine the educational landscape. This approach demands a duplicate balance, ensuring it supports educational goals without losing quality. The impact of political decisions goes beyond the direct impact on the budget. It affects public trust and perception, which is critical to ensuring charitable donations and growing support. Ensuring collaboration between policymakers, educators and communities is critical. This collaborative support helps navigate complex funding issues and align them with long-term needs of students and the state. When budget cuts affect the University of Wisconsin, it's not just the numbers that change. Student organizations and research projects feel the pinch too. The groups thrive on funding when it's cut. Everything from events to experiments gets scaled back. Taking the global budget experiment grant as an example, it's a fund that helps student groups organize these events that bring us all a little closer, promoting understanding as a community. Organizations can get up to $3,000 to make these events happen. This kind of support is vital for keeping health youth lives more inclusive. As we conclude today's program, I encourage you to think about how economic changes and funding decisions affect educational institutions as well as communities, states and the nation. The future of higher education in Wisconsin and beyond is in our hands. Policymakers, educators, students, citizens, and so on. So let's continue this conversation, stay engaged, and work for a future where education is valued and well-funded.