As tuition at UW-Madison has steadily increased over the past decade, access to higher education has declined for qualified lower- and middle-income students.

This week, the UW-Madison Faculty Senate made a smart move by addressing the accessibility issue in passing a resolution to create a need-based scholarship fund supported by faculty contributions and matching funds from the UW Foundation.

While the exact logistics and size of the scholarship fund remain unclear, there is no doubt that this effort represents a step in the right direction.

For some time, tuition has been rising at rates far surpassing inflation in Wisconsin and across the nation.

It is hard to believe that in-state tuition at UW-Madison has increased by more than 50 percent in the past five years. One may find it harder to believe that in-state tuition has more than doubled in the past decade.

Without commensurate increases in financial aid and scholarships, students in lower and middle income brackets simply cannot afford the world class education this school can offer.

We commend the faculty for addressing this important topic. This approved resolution speaks volumes about the commitment and dedication of our faculty to increasing accessibility to all students.

There is a clear difference between expressing concerns about an entrenched problem and actually acting on those concerns.

With this vote, the UW-Madison faculty shelled money out of their own pockets to make UW-Madison a more inclusive institution.

The vote also functions as a signal to other interested parties that UW-Madison takes the accessibility problem seriously. For instance, the UW Foundation has already pledged to meet faculty contributions dollar-for-dollar. Academic staff, UW-Madison alumni and faculty at other UW System schools may be encouraged to take similar measures.

The creation of this scholarship fund will not eliminate the access problem for lower income students. Nevertheless, this multi-million dollar fund will support dozens of students in need of financial assistance.

We commend this resolution as important and incremental step in the right direction toward making a University of Wisconsin education available to all students regardless of income.