The Wisconsin Higher Education Grant's funding will increase by 10 percent, while the tuition cap will decrease from the 10 percent Govorner Scott McCallum had proposed to 8 percent, the Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee decided Tuesday.
The committee also voted to increase grants for students of color by $200,000, and to raise funds to recruit and retain students of color in the UW System.
\This is a huge victory for students,"" United Council for UW Students President Matt Fargen said in a statement.
Tuesday's vote to increase financial aid while decreasing the tuition cap came despite McCallum's Budget Reform Act, which will force the state budget to be cut by $1.1 billion.
""It is very pleasing to know that the Joint Finance Committee is not going to let the regents balance the deficit on the backs of students,"" said United Council Academic Affairs Director Maggie Brown. ""This shifts the power of setting tuition from the unaccountable regents to our elected representatives.\
