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In the midst of a crushing economic downturn, our elected state leaders crafted a two-year budget that reflected tough choices, including $250 million in reduced state funding for the University of Wisconsin System.

Facing that daunting budget gap, we began the year at UW institutions by confronting tough choices of our own. The funding gap was covered through hundreds of cost-cutting decisions, all of which affect our core educational mission and our UW students. Higher tuition bills, never a desirable option, helped offset less than one-third of the state reductions.

Now, well into the academic year, we find ourselves asked to cut even further. This is because the state's $14 billion budget was balanced through the use of a $174.3 million lapse - a fiscal safety valve that withdraws a portion of funding from state agencies to account for lower-than-projected revenues.

The use of a lapse is not a surprise. What is surprising, however, is the apparent reliance on the UW System to balance the state budget. Unfortunately, our students will suffer the unintended consequences of this approach.

On Oct. 14, the Department of Administration released a memo announcing plans for the new lapse, requiring the UW System to return $65.3 million to the state over two years. That represents about 38% of all new cuts to state agencies, despite the fact that the UW System represents only 7% of state expenditures.

To put this unexpectedly disproportionate plan in another perspective, compare it to previous state lapses. In the 2007-'09 budget cycle, when state lapses amounted to $540 million, the UW System's share was $53.3 million, or 9.9%. In the 2009-'11 budget cycle, when lapses totaled $509 million, the UW's share was $44.4 million, or 8.7%.

The timing of these new cuts is also problematic. With near record enrollments, our colleges and universities have made firm commitments to students, faculty and staff that cannot be reversed midsemester. Students paid their tuition bills, came to campus and began working hard toward their college dreams. It's our obligation to deliver a high-quality educational experience, but oversized funding cuts make it difficult to fulfill those promises.

We do not understand the rationale behind such a lopsided allocation. We do understand why state leaders would exempt K-12 schools and technical colleges from new cuts, as "high priority programs," but we can't comprehend why they would place such a heavy burden squarely upon the shoulders of UW students. We do not know why some financial aid programs would be held harmless, while other UW financial aid funds are included in the lapse.

We are working to get answers to these concerns through civil and constructive dialogue. We are also reiterating the UW System's role as an economic engine, and asking state leaders to develop a fairer plan - one that protects UW students.

This is more than a dry budgetary exercise. If the state's financial outlook worsens, as it could, and the same disproportionate allocation methodology is applied, a dire scenario could result.

The same Oct. 14 memo from DOA asks state agencies to plan for a massive $300 million lapse. Under those circumstances, if UW institutions are required to absorb 38% of the larger cut, we'll find ourselves staring into a financial abyss amounting to $113 million in new cuts to our campuses.

There is still time to reconsider the methodology behind this midyear budget lapse and redress its inequities. By doing so, state leaders can send a message to all UW students and their families that higher education is a higher priority in Wisconsin.

This op-ed was signed by Kevin P. Reilly, president, University of Wisconsin System and by UW chancellors Ray Cross, UW Colleges/Extension; Brian Levin-Stankevich, Eau Claire; Tom Harden, Green Bay; Joe Gow, La Crosse; David Ward, Madison; Mike Lovell, Milwaukee; Richard Wells, Oshkosh; Debbie Ford, Parkside; Dennis Shields, Platteville; Dean Van Galen, River Falls; Bernie Patterson, Stevens Point; Charles Sorensen, Stout; Renee Wachter, Superior; Richard Telfer, Whitewater; Thomas Pleger, campus executive officer/dean, Baraboo/Sauk County; Paul Chase, campus executive officer/dean, Barron County; John Short, campus executive officer/dean, Fond du Lac; Andy Keogh, interim campus executive officer/dean, Fox Valley; Charles Clark, campus executive officer/dean, Manitowoc; Keith Montgomery, campus executive officer/dean, Marathon County; Paula Langteau, campus executive officer/dean, Marinette; Patricia Stuhr, campus executive officer/dean, Marshfield/Wood County; Patrick Hagen, campus executive officer/dean, Richland; Kim Kostka, interim campus executive officer/dean, Rock County; Al Hardersen, campus executive officer/dean, Sheboygan; Alan Paul Price, campus executive officer/dean, Washington County; and Harry Muir, campus executive officer/dean, Waukesha.