PROFS
@profsuwmadison.bsky.social
PROFS is a UW-Madison faculty advocacy organization supported entirely through voluntary faculty contributions. Reposts are not endorsements.
Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota Grejner-Brzezinksa on cuts to UW's federal research funding: "It’s still quite unpredictable, and there’s a lot of uncertainty, but I think we are feeling stronger about how we respond to the challenge, and how the university community responds to the challenge."
In the face of federal grant cuts, UW-Madison’s research head learns to pivot in her first year
Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska last September stepped into the top UW-Madison research role with big plans.
madison.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota Grejner-Brzezinksa on cuts to UW's federal research funding: "It’s still quite unpredictable, and there’s a lot of uncertainty, but I think we are feeling stronger about how we respond to the challenge, and how the university community responds to the challenge."
Reposted by PROFS
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’
From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and ...
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
In June, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin instructed academic units to cut their budgets by 5% and administrative units by 7% in an effort to manage cuts in federal research grants. The @captimes.com Becky Jacobs shares UW-Madison's plans to layoff 31 employees and leave more than 150 positions vacant.
Emails show UW-Madison to lay off 31 employees, among other cuts
Campus leaders’ emails reveal how the university is making budget cuts amid the Trump administration’s ‘disinvestment’ from higher education.
captimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:49 PM
In June, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin instructed academic units to cut their budgets by 5% and administrative units by 7% in an effort to manage cuts in federal research grants. The @captimes.com Becky Jacobs shares UW-Madison's plans to layoff 31 employees and leave more than 150 positions vacant.
Last week, PROFS offered written testimony opposing Assembly Bill 446, legislation that would define antisemitism in state statutes. profs.wisc.edu?p=10075
Our testimony ⬇️
Our testimony ⬇️
October 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Last week, PROFS offered written testimony opposing Assembly Bill 446, legislation that would define antisemitism in state statutes. profs.wisc.edu?p=10075
Our testimony ⬇️
Our testimony ⬇️
While UW-Madison is a top recipient of federal research funding, only about 8% of the total comes from the US Department of Defense. Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska is hoping to change that by securing DoD funding for dual-use research that benefits society and national security.
UW-Madison wants to grow defense research — but not build weapons
While the University of Wisconsin-Madison already works with the U.S. Department of Defense, Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska sees room to expand.
captimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:54 PM
While UW-Madison is a top recipient of federal research funding, only about 8% of the total comes from the US Department of Defense. Vice Chancellor Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska is hoping to change that by securing DoD funding for dual-use research that benefits society and national security.
Yesterday, PROFS provided written testimony opposing Senate Bill 498, legislation that purports to protect free speech and academic freedom at the Universities of Wisconsin. @wisconsinexaminer.com takes a look at the bill ⬇️
Lawmakers take up UW tuition constraints, penalties for free speech violations • Wisconsin Examiner
One bill would leverage tuition freezes on campuses as a penalty for free speech violations, while the other would cap tuition increases.
wisconsinexaminer.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Yesterday, PROFS provided written testimony opposing Senate Bill 498, legislation that purports to protect free speech and academic freedom at the Universities of Wisconsin. @wisconsinexaminer.com takes a look at the bill ⬇️
The National College Attainment Network found that Wisconsin is fifth from the bottom for college affordability. The group's analysis measures the affordability gap–the difference between total college cost and what students and families can pay. Bucky's Tuition Promise closes the gap at UW-Madison.
Study: Wisconsin trails most states in college affordability
The state ranked 46th in its share of public colleges considered affordable. As Wisconsin lawmakers spend less on higher education, some see tuition promise programs as part of the solution.
wisconsinwatch.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The National College Attainment Network found that Wisconsin is fifth from the bottom for college affordability. The group's analysis measures the affordability gap–the difference between total college cost and what students and families can pay. Bucky's Tuition Promise closes the gap at UW-Madison.
Regents approved a plan to distribute $27 million in market pay adjustments for faculty in high-demand fields. UW-Madison will receive $2 million for faculty who work in "areas that advance diversity of thought and the foundation of free markets," and $25 million will be shared by all the campuses.
Faculty in high-demand fields could get raises under new UW system policy
Under the plan, $2 million will be earmarked for UW-Madison to use for faculty who work in “areas that advance diversity of thought and the foundation of free markets.”
madison.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Regents approved a plan to distribute $27 million in market pay adjustments for faculty in high-demand fields. UW-Madison will receive $2 million for faculty who work in "areas that advance diversity of thought and the foundation of free markets," and $25 million will be shared by all the campuses.
Nine universities have one more week to let the Trump administration know whether or not they will adopt the Compact for Academic Excellence in Education. On Friday, MIT said it "cannot support" the proposal, making it the only university to state refuse the offer. What is known about the others ⬇️
The White House Sent Its Compact to 9 Universities. Here’s What Their Administrators and Faculty Are Saying.
Presidents have been guarded in their remarks on the Trump administration’s offer. But professors have expressed grave concerns.
www.chronicle.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Nine universities have one more week to let the Trump administration know whether or not they will adopt the Compact for Academic Excellence in Education. On Friday, MIT said it "cannot support" the proposal, making it the only university to state refuse the offer. What is known about the others ⬇️
Reposted by PROFS
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling reut.rs/471tkNZ
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling
Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth on Friday said she "cannot support" a memo that the White House sent to nine elite U.S. universities last week detailing policies they should follow to get preferential consideration for federal funding.
reut.rs
October 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling reut.rs/471tkNZ
Congratulations to UW-Madison professors Ángel F. Adames Corraliza (Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences) and Sébastien Philippe (Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics) who were awarded MacArthur fellowships. The "genius grant" recipients will receive an $800,000 unrestricted grant.
Two UW–Madison professors named MacArthur Fellows
Atmospheric scientist Ángel F. Adames Corraliza and nuclear security specialist Sébastien Philippe, professors at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, have been awarded 2025 MacArthur Fellowships.
news.wisc.edu
October 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Congratulations to UW-Madison professors Ángel F. Adames Corraliza (Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences) and Sébastien Philippe (Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics) who were awarded MacArthur fellowships. The "genius grant" recipients will receive an $800,000 unrestricted grant.
Faculty Senates at the University of Arizona and University of Virginia voted in opposition to President Trump's higher education compact. Leaders at the nine colleges and universities that were offered the compact have largely been silent since receiving the offer last week.
Trump’s higher ed compact draws condemnation from faculty and college unions
At least two faculty senates have voted to oppose the proposed agreement sent to nine research universities, while other workers have publicly rebuked it.
www.highereddive.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Faculty Senates at the University of Arizona and University of Virginia voted in opposition to President Trump's higher education compact. Leaders at the nine colleges and universities that were offered the compact have largely been silent since receiving the offer last week.
The Trump administration proposed a compact with 9 colleges and universities. The deal would give preferential treatment on federal funding to the institutions in exchange for broad changes to admissions and enrollment, hiring, tuition-setting, campus speech, and the treatment of conservatives.
Higher Ed Sounds Off on Proposed Compact
The sector has overwhelmingly panned Trump’s plan to give preferential treatment to universities that commit to his policies. So have some conservative leaders.
www.insidehighered.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The Trump administration proposed a compact with 9 colleges and universities. The deal would give preferential treatment on federal funding to the institutions in exchange for broad changes to admissions and enrollment, hiring, tuition-setting, campus speech, and the treatment of conservatives.
PROFS is deeply concerned that Assembly Bill 446/Senate Bill 445, legislation that would define antisemitism, would have the unintended consequence of infringing on First Amendment rights. Link to legislation: profs.wisc.edu?p=10057
Our statement ⬇️
Our statement ⬇️
September 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
PROFS is deeply concerned that Assembly Bill 446/Senate Bill 445, legislation that would define antisemitism, would have the unintended consequence of infringing on First Amendment rights. Link to legislation: profs.wisc.edu?p=10057
Our statement ⬇️
Our statement ⬇️
UW-Madison employs the second-largest number of H-1B visa holders in the state. Last week, President Trump increased the annual fee paid by employers of visa-holders from $215 to $100,000. A UW-Madison spokesperson said it's unclear if the fee will apply to the university.
What Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee means for UW-Madison, Wisconsin
Wisconsin employers hire about 2,600 employees each year using H-1B visas, which going forward will cost $100,000 each.
madison.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:35 PM
UW-Madison employs the second-largest number of H-1B visa holders in the state. Last week, President Trump increased the annual fee paid by employers of visa-holders from $215 to $100,000. A UW-Madison spokesperson said it's unclear if the fee will apply to the university.
A coalition of University of California employee groups and labor unions has sued the Trump administration over the federal government’s efforts to "exert ideological control" of the UC System campuses through cuts in research funding. The lawsuit called the cuts unconstitutional and arbitrary.
UC employees, unions sue Trump administration over ‘financial coercion’
The government is seeking $1 billion and expansive access to University of California records, among other things, to settle antisemitism allegations.
www.highereddive.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
A coalition of University of California employee groups and labor unions has sued the Trump administration over the federal government’s efforts to "exert ideological control" of the UC System campuses through cuts in research funding. The lawsuit called the cuts unconstitutional and arbitrary.
UW-Madison grad student's NIH grant was terminated without warning, less than four months into the project. Supervising professor Lingjung Li: "We believe that different, diverse backgrounds can actually bring unique and different perspectives to make our research enterprise better and stronger."
Wisconsin researcher’s project cut short in NIH diversity purge • Wisconsin Examiner
Trump administration attacks on diversity programs led NIH to cancel awards aimed at diversifying the research workforce.
wisconsinexaminer.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
UW-Madison grad student's NIH grant was terminated without warning, less than four months into the project. Supervising professor Lingjung Li: "We believe that different, diverse backgrounds can actually bring unique and different perspectives to make our research enterprise better and stronger."
Nebraska's flagship is considering cutting 6 academic programs (bachelor's & graduate) and consolidating 4 others in an effort to cut more than $27 million. The targeted programs include community & regional planning, earth & atmospheric sciences, statistics, and educational administration.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln looks to cut 6 academic programs
The move would save $7.7 million, according to the public institution’s chancellor, who also called for merging other programs into new interdisciplinary schools.
www.highereddive.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Nebraska's flagship is considering cutting 6 academic programs (bachelor's & graduate) and consolidating 4 others in an effort to cut more than $27 million. The targeted programs include community & regional planning, earth & atmospheric sciences, statistics, and educational administration.
Gallup finds that the perceived importance of college in the US has dramatically fallen over the past 15 years. Thirty-five percent say college is very important, compared to 75% in 2010. Confidence in higher ed has fallen more steeply among Republicans, with 40% saying college is not too important.
Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low
The percentage of Americans who consider a college education "very important" has slipped below the majority level.
news.gallup.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Gallup finds that the perceived importance of college in the US has dramatically fallen over the past 15 years. Thirty-five percent say college is very important, compared to 75% in 2010. Confidence in higher ed has fallen more steeply among Republicans, with 40% saying college is not too important.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he wants the federal government to receive half the funds generated from university patents that were the result of federally-funded research: "I think if we fund it and they invent a patent, the...taxpayer should get half the benefit."
Commerce Sec. Wants Half of University Patent Money
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Axios he wants the federal government to get half the dollars generated from patents that universities and their researchers develop with federal funding, the ou...
www.insidehighered.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he wants the federal government to receive half the funds generated from university patents that were the result of federally-funded research: "I think if we fund it and they invent a patent, the...taxpayer should get half the benefit."
Facing a $25-30 million deficit, the University of Oregon has laid off almost 120 employees over the past few months. 59 vacant positions were also eliminated, including 14 tenure-track faculty positions.
University of Oregon laying off around 60 employees
Overall, the university has let go of almost 120 employees and eliminated 59 vacant jobs this year.
www.highereddive.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Facing a $25-30 million deficit, the University of Oregon has laid off almost 120 employees over the past few months. 59 vacant positions were also eliminated, including 14 tenure-track faculty positions.
More than half of UW System's 13 universities have increased their enrollment over last year's figures. UW-Madison's enrollment is essentially flat––about 250 fewer students out of nearly 52,000 last year. Campuses in Whitewater, Green Bay and Parkside showed notable growth over last year.
Loss of international students affects enrollment growth at UW campuses
New freshman enrollment across the Universities of Wisconsin campuses is up an average of 3 percent this fall, but “significant declines” in international students has kept overall enrollment flat.
www.wpr.org
September 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
More than half of UW System's 13 universities have increased their enrollment over last year's figures. UW-Madison's enrollment is essentially flat––about 250 fewer students out of nearly 52,000 last year. Campuses in Whitewater, Green Bay and Parkside showed notable growth over last year.
At a speech at Hillsdale College, Education Secretary Linda McMahon says higher education broken and that "(d)ecline is a choice, and too many college leaders today have made that choice and failed to own up to it." McMahon is on a national tour touting her Returning Education to the States plan.
McMahon Dings University Leaders, Cites Hillsdale as Model
The education secretary says higher ed is in decline. Critics say her speech outlining her vision for the sector misrepresents the reality on campuses.
www.insidehighered.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
At a speech at Hillsdale College, Education Secretary Linda McMahon says higher education broken and that "(d)ecline is a choice, and too many college leaders today have made that choice and failed to own up to it." McMahon is on a national tour touting her Returning Education to the States plan.
The Department of Education is shifting career and technical education programs to the Dept. of Labor, a move that some see as another step in dismantling the department. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Patty Murray and Congresswoman Rosa DaLauro call the move an illegal attempt to dismantle the department.
Trump Administration Takes Next Step in Dismantling ED
The Trump administration has taken another step toward dismantling the Department of Education, creating a new integrated “state plan portal” that will allow the Department of Labor to jointly adminis...
www.insidehighered.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The Department of Education is shifting career and technical education programs to the Dept. of Labor, a move that some see as another step in dismantling the department. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Patty Murray and Congresswoman Rosa DaLauro call the move an illegal attempt to dismantle the department.
ICYMI: PROFS is working with State Sen. Kelda Roys and others to advance legislation that would ban firearms on Wisconsin's public college and university campuses.
www.dailycardinal.com/article/2025...
www.dailycardinal.com/article/2025...
September 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
ICYMI: PROFS is working with State Sen. Kelda Roys and others to advance legislation that would ban firearms on Wisconsin's public college and university campuses.
www.dailycardinal.com/article/2025...
www.dailycardinal.com/article/2025...