Legislative Audit Bureau Releases WTCS Study

Yesterday the Legislative Audit Bureau released its study of the Wisconsin Technical College System. It reported that Gateway Technical College had misused public money in establishing non-profit training centers, that Madison Area Technical College had the largest number of administrators paid over $100,000 a year, and that WTCS faculty salaries are among the highest in the nation.

Republican legislators who are anti-union and anti-public education have already tried to use the report to attack the faculty of MATC and other tech colleges. But the Audit Committee’s co-chair, Democratic Senator Jim Sullivan, defended the WTCS and its faculty as did WTCS system president Dan Clancy.

Dr. Cole also sent a brief message to the MATC community defending MATC salaries but calling for “restraint,” something he certainly did NOT display with his own salary and benefits.

Unfortunately, Dr. Cole once again ignored the report’s finding that average Full Time Equivalent instructor’s salary is $70,000 and used the much high number that includes the above load teaching and administrative work that full time faculty engage in. Unlike Dan Clancy, Dr. Cole failed to acknowledge that such an arrangement is actually cost effective for the taxpayers since any work done above load is only paid at 60% of the hourly rate and there is no additional cost for benefits.

Link to Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Article