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State aid cuts have UW-Madison rethinking methods
With millions of dollars stripped away from the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s operating budget, administrators are seeking innovative and collaborative solutions to maintain the quality of a UW-Madison education. These initiatives include: more efficient teaching assignments, more sponsored research projects, philanthropy and a new focus on “blended learning.”
Communicating needs are key to successful school referendums
A close exploration of one successful school referendum in Beloit and one that failed in Oregon reveal that the effective components on a proposal that asks taxpayers for money to fund school projects must include a careful strategy of assessing the problem, communicating the need effectively and budgeting frugally.
Kohler schools’ fundraising underwrites education
Known as home of Kohler Company, Kohler is regarded as a “wealthy” community and so does not receive as much state aid as other towns. Schools across Wisconsin scrambled to do more with less state aid this year. But, for the Kohler School District, that was business as usual.
Pinched rural schools innovate to stay alive
Facing a tough economic climate and funding cuts, rural schools are working to find solutions to thrive competitively. Highland School District has implemented a unique strategy to combat funding issues and provide advantages to its rural-area students that may not be available in urban schools.
UW-Madison monitors textbook costs, e-options
Textbook prices are seemingly always on the rise at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but “e-textbooks” provide a popular alternative.
Students graduating with record debt
More than 18,000 undergraduates attend UW-Madison who have taken out federal loans. The average debt of borrowers was $24,717 in 2009-’2010, and the average debt of all graduates was estimated at $14,597. Students seek grants, work opportunities and saving strategies to manage debt some anticipate will last their entire careers.
*Q&A: UW-Madison Financial Aid Director Susan Fischer answers questions on how to prepare students to repay loans.
