Last month, Gov. Evers released his 2025-27 Executive Budget—the most pro-kid budget in state history—aimed at doing what’s best for our kids at every stage, in every way, and no matter where they live in our state. The governor’s proposal makes the largest investment in Wisconsin’s kids in any budget by any governor in state history, including investing in public education at every level. This includes delivering 

on his promise to the people of Wisconsin to provide the largest two-year increase for the UW System in state history with a more than $856 million investment over the biennium to prevent further campus closures, layoffs, and program cuts and ensure the UW System remains the crown jewel of Wisconsin’s workforce and economy for future generations.

Building upon Gov. Evers’ robust investments in the UW System in his 2025-27 Executive Budget, earlier this month, the governor announced approximately $4.1 billion in recommended investments in his 2025-27 Capital Budget for the renovation and renewal of the state’s existing infrastructure and to support major projects in 26 counties across Wisconsin, including several key projects across UW System campuses. The governor’s Capital Budget includes a transformative investment of nearly $1.6 billion in capital improvement projects across the UW System, ensuring campuses statewide remain at the forefront of education, research, and innovation. It is estimated the governor’s proposed Capital Budget supports approximately $7.3 billion in economic activity and nearly 37,200 jobs across the state.

With the Trump Administration’s recent attacks against public education institutions nationwide, Gov. Evers’ support of the UW System is more crucial than ever. Earlier this month, it was announced President Trump is expected to sign an executive order aimed at dissolving the U.S. Department of Education. In response, Gov. Evers released a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s announcement. The Trump Administration has also threatened to cut federal funding to UW-Madison—which would cause a loss of approximately nearly $900 million—and announced a series of mass layoffs at the Department of Education, with plans to cut up to 50 percent of the department’s workforce. Reportedly, according to agency documents, the sweeping layoffs will include agency workers who specialize in student aid programs, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), English language programs for immigrant students, and special education.

Additionally, the UW System experienced further federal attacks as the Trump Administration and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced plans to gut funding for life-saving medical research, which would have a devastating impact on UW-Madison, the state’s flagship campus, and renowned research institutions across the UW System and the country. The vital NIH funds support efforts to find cures and treatments for things like Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. In response, Gov. Evers announced that Wisconsin would be joining a new multi-state lawsuit aiming to stop the Trump Administration from stripping these critical research funds.

Moreover, the governor’s substantial state investments in the UW System come as six UW branch campuses announced closures and several UW campuses have been forced to furlough and lay off employees, shift funding or make cuts, and restructure portions of campus operations, which the governor argued is largely due to Republican lawmakers’ actions and inaction over the last decade, as highlighted in reporting by PolitiFact Wisconsin. According to the State Higher Education Finance Report, which is released by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Wisconsin ranked 42nd for public funding for four-year colleges based on 2022 data. A report released in April 2023 by the Wisconsin Policy Forum found that the UW System ranked 43rd nationally for per-student funding in 2021.

On Mon., March 10, Gov. Evers kicked off his statewide tour, highlighting his 2025-27 Executive and Capital Budget investments with a visit to UW-Eau Claire, where he was joined by UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt and campus leaders. During the visit, the governor and chancellor visited the construction site for the new Sciences and Health Sciences Building. Following this, the groups held a discussion in the Vicki Lord Larson Hall, where they spoke about the proposed elevator and accessibility renovation plans with students and staff. The governor concluded the tour with a visit to the McIntyre Library, where he congratulated staff for receiving the 2024 Wisconsin Libraries Association’s Library of the Year award. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

Afterward, Gov. Evers continued his day with a visit to UW-Stevens Point, where he was joined by UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson, city of Stevens Points Mayor Mike Wiza, State Rep. Vincent Miresse (D-Stevens Point), and campus leaders. During the visit, the governor highlighted his capital budget proposal to renovate the greenhouse at the Trainer Natural Resources Building, as well as took a tour of Sentry Hall to discuss his proposal to renovate and construct a new addition to the Collins Classroom Center, transforming the facility into the new home for the Sentry School of Business and Economics Center. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

To conclude his day, Gov. Evers visited UW-Parkside, where he was joined by UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn D. Akey, State Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha), State Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine), State Rep. Angelina Cruz (D-Racine), and campus leaders. While there, the group went on a tour of the campus, starting with a stop discussing the heating and chilling plant infrastructure upgrades, and then went on to tour Tallent Hall to see the physician assistant program construction and was given an overview of its role in expanding healthcare education. To conclude the tour, the governor toured Wyllie Hall to emphasize his proposal to renovate and replace existing, aging infrastructure on campus, including the completion of the Wyllie Hall renovation. Photos of the visit are available here and here. 

On Tues., March 11, Gov. Evers started his day with a visit to UW-La Crosse, where he was joined by UW-La Crosse Chancellor James Beeby, State Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), State Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), State Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Town of Shelby), and campus leaders. During the visit, the governor toured the campus, starting with a visit to a genetics class located in the Prairie Springs Science Center, where he highlighted the Prairie Springs Science Center Completion Project and how the expansion will support STEM education and workforce development by providing state-of-the-art instructional labs and research spaces. To conclude the tour, the governor and chancellor toured the Recreational Eagle Center, where they spoke with students about the importance of student spaces and ensuring they are updated. Photos of the visit are available here and here.  

To conclude the day, the governor went on to visit and tour UW-Green Bay, where he was joined by UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander, State Sen. Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay), and campus leaders. During the visit, the governor and chancellor went on a walking tour highlighting and emphasizing plans to renovate and update the Instructional Services, Environmental Science, and Lab Science buildings. The group ended the visit with a tour of the Kress Events Center, where they highlighted the importance of how the air handling improvements will allow the building to better serve the student and guest needs of the building. Photos of the visit are available here and here. 

On Wed., March 12, Gov. Evers started his day with a visit to UW-Whitewater, where he was joined by UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King, State Rep. Brienne Brown (D-Whitewater), and campus leaders. During the visit, Gov. Evers highlighted projects on campus included in his Capital Budget. The governor toured Andersen Library, which would receive $7.1 million to replace the windows and doors; Benson Hall, which would receive $6.9 million for residence hall renovations; the Williams Center, which would receive $14.8 million for a roof replacement and flood mitigation; and the Center of the Arts, which would receive $14.9 million for renovations to the classrooms, labs, and studios to better serve student needs. Photos of the visit are available here and here. 

Afterward, Gov. Evers visited UW-Milwaukee, where he was joined by UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark A. Mone and campus leadership. During the visit, the governor visited the Health Sciences building to learn about how the $189.3 million project will renovate a former hospital space into a learning lab for health sciences students on campus, giving them simulated, hands-on experiences in the classroom. He also took a look at the Maryland Avenue Bridge, which would receive $7.3 million through the governor’s capital budget recommendations for repairs and restoration. Photos of the visit are available here and here. 

On Thurs., March 13, Gov. Evers visited his alma mater, UW-Madison, where he was joined by UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and campus leaders. During the visit, he toured the Chadbourne Residence Hall to learn more about the need for additional residence halls on campus due to overcrowding. The governor also toured the Mosse Humanities Building and spoke with students about the challenges the building presents. The building opened in 1969, and more than 55 years later, it is dilapidated, with flooding and water challenges, poor accessibility for folks with disabilities, and a lack of classrooms, storage, and gathering spaces, among many other challenges. The governor is recommending more than $292 million for the Mosse Humanities Building project to demolish a portion of the original building, renovate the remainder of the building, and construct a replacement facility. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

Finally, on Fri., March 14, Gov. Evers wrapped up his statewide tour of UW campuses with a visit to UW-Stout, where he was joined by UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank, State Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick), and campus leaders to highlight projects supported by the governor’s Capital Budget investments. During the visit, the group toured the Sports and Fitness Center and heard about the plans to renovate the facility, construct an addition on the west side of the center, and upgrade spaces for fitness, recreation, and wellness. Then, the group toured the Hansen Keith Milnes Chinnock Residence Hall, which will undergo renovations to upgrade communal spaces and building infrastructure, as well as create new accessible entrances. Photos of the visit are available here and here.

The 2025-27 Capital Budget Agency Requests and Governor’s Recommendations can be found here.