UW-Madison Chancellor speaks out about rumors - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

By Steven Pope - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

MADISON (WKOW) -- UW-Madison chancellor Biddy Martin is speaking out about what she calls misleading headlines about the UW's hope for a new partnership with the state.

Martin says a rumored 26 percent increase in tuition isn't true.

The number came up as part of a hypothetical scenario when Governor Walker's office asked for more information about the new relationship.

Martin says raising tuition that much would be unacceptable.

She says the new partnership would give the UW new tools to deal with significant budget cuts.

"What enables as an institution or a business to manage itself effectively is having enough local control over its operation, so as not to have to go through several layers of administrative hurdles in order to get anything done," says Martin.

Martin also says they have been advocating for the new partnership for more than a year.  She says it's crucial to keeping the UW a leading university.

"UW Madison cannot continue to be the economic driver and the gem that it is for the state of Wisconsin if it doesn't have new tools to deal with significant budget cuts," said Martin.