The state budget’s impact on the UW System is a top priority for Interim Chancellor Vicki Lord Larson, she said.

Last week the new chancellor met with the UW System Board of Regents in Madison.

“If the budget goes ahead as planned … we’ll have to look seriously at where we can make administrative cuts,” Larson said. “We’ll have to make decisions fairly quickly.”

Changes could happen as soon as a finalized budget is passed by the state Legislature and approved by Gov. Jim Doyle, she said. This week, Larson will speak before members of the Joint Finance Committee in Menomonie.

Her first Chancellor’s Roundtable on March 31 has been rescheduled to April 4 because of another meeting with legislators in Madison.

“My major issue at the moment is to look at the budget,” she said. “We’re going to work to maintain our tradition of excellence.”

Student Senate President Chad Wade said while the proposed budget is “a bit of a step forward” from the previous biennium’s tuition hikes, increasing education costs are especially dangerous for middle-class students.

“They don’t necessarily qualify for financial aid, but parents don’t necessarily have enough money to make an investment in their child’s education,” he said. “Those are the ones that are priced out.”

Wade said Larson’s emphasis on financial concerns is an appropriate focus.

“I think it shows that Interim Chancellor Larson is very student-centered,” he said. “The budget will have a large impact for students.”

Other priorities for Larson include working to implement Plan 2008, the UW System’s diversity initiative, and maintaining momentum for the university’s comprehensive fund-raising campaign, she said.

Larson began March 7 in her new position after former Chancellor Donald Mash took a newly created position of executive senior vice president of the UW System.

Larson’s first week on campus focused on getting to know people and renewing old acquaintances, she said. At a reception March 7, she met publicly with members of the campus community.

“The reception was wonderful, because that’s where I got to meet faculty, staff and students,” she said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed talking with students and getting their perspective on life.”

Larson also held a breakfast with Eau Claire community leaders and met with the university’s executive staff, she said.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “I feel like I’m home.”