Regents Demonstrate Ignorance of Economics

Not in the least bit concerned with public sentiment on the issue, the UW Board of Regents decided that a deep discount on tuition will make UW college educations more valuable.

...the regents cut tuition for non-residents by $2,300 at UW-Milwaukee and $2,000 at every other public university, except UW-Madison.

The cuts - an equally controversial move - were framed as a way to reverse a declining enrollment of non-residents, thereby increasing revenue and diversity on campus.

University officials insist that no Wisconsin students would be displaced. But critics, including state legislators and U.S Rep. Mark Green (R-Wis.), argued that residents would be saddled with higher tuition costs and competition in admissions.

The regents acknowledged that their decisions Friday would be politically unpopular.

They "acknowledged that it would be politically unpopular," gave the taxpayers the finger, and went home.

As we mentioned earlier, the recession was the most likely cause of the miniscule drop (2,000 students) in out-state student population since the year 2000. UW's response demonstrates the short-term thinking which most academics abhor.

Having utterly failed to exercise meaningful governance over a university system which retains incompetents, sociopaths, and twits with "backup jobs" and "personal/vacation leaves", the Regents instead cheapen the UW (literally) for certain students.

In other words, the Regents demolished the wrong target.