Wisconsin residents gave the University of Wisconsin System a mixed review, according to a new survey released by the Wood Communications Group.

The poll, conducted by the Madison-based group, tallied the responses of 600 adults across the state and came up with the following results:

• Nearly 75 percent of residents said they could not afford to send their children to a UW System school without some sort of aid or scholarship.
• Seventy-two percent of residents polled feel that UW campuses spend too much money on things they do not need, instead of concentrating on educating students.
• Sixty-nine percent believe that UW campuses have more administrators than they need.
• Fifty-nine percent agree that UW campuses do not have to watch how they spend their money like the rest of us.

The survey also points out that massive budget cuts are affecting the research and teaching capabilities of UW System schools, leading to rising tuition costs and a decrease in public support.

The initial article that ran in the Feb. 23 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel captured only the negative aspects of the survey. The full results were released later.

In spite of the negativity expressed in the results, 79 percent of residents feel that UW campuses do an excellent job of providing a good education for their students. The majority of Wisconsin residents feel that a UW System education is a good value.

In a message to faculty, Chancellor Carlos Santiago pointed out those positives of the survey and commended staff for their hard work.

“This morning’s story is a contradiction to what I have heard in conversations with many current and former students, who overwhelmingly value their UWM education,” Santiago said.

Other UWM students feel that the cost of education is becoming a concern.

“Tuition is getting too expensive,” freshman Amanda Vogel said. “The rise in cost is not equal to the rise in the value of our education.”

“Books are way too expensive,” said freshman Mary Kelly.

The survey was designed to generate support for the UW System in the business community, attempting to rally state and community leaders to help improve the system.

The goal is to create a roundtable group of business leaders to stir up public support for the system.

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