One of UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin's top priorities is keeping the university affordable through need-based financial aid, she said Thursday in a speech at an event formally welcoming Martin to Wisconsin.

Less important, she said, is an unrealistic goal of keeping tuition flat or decreasing it.

She said the university must raise more money for need-based aid and envisioned a sliding scale of college tuition.

"Those who can afford to pay more should pay more," Martin said. "Those who can afford less should pay less; and those who cannot afford to pay anything should pay nothing in actual dollars but should be allowed to contribute to their own education through work study."

Her other priorities are: recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, research, undergraduate education, diversity and invigoration of the Wisconsin Idea.

Martin, who became chancellor Sept. 1, said her first two months back in Madison have been "joyful." She gave the 39-page speech at the Kohl Center before an audience that included Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly and a group from the School of Human Ecology faculty wearing bright yellow "Welcome Chancellor Martin" T-shirts.