MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Outgoing University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor John Wiley is receiving praise for starting a public debate about the future of higher education in Wisconsin.

The Board of Regents has approved a resolution praising Wiley's seven-year tenure as the leader of the state's flagship university.

The board says Wiley helped rebuild the campus infrastructure, led a $1.5 billion fundraising campaign and kept the university affordable and accessible to students.

Regent David Walsh says part of Wiley's legacy will be starting a dialogue about the need for the state to invest in education to increase per person income.

The praise comes one day after Wiley published a lengthy essay blasting the state's business lobby for being an obstacle to economic growth.