The gap between UW-Madison's tuition and the tuition of its Big Ten peers has widened in the past two years, according to the UW System Board of Regents.
UW-Madison presently ranks eighth out of nine peer institutions when comparing resident undergraduate tuition and fees.
According to Regent Jesus Salas, \We are one of the lowest [institutions in providing financial aid] compared to our peers. Illinois spends three times as much, Minnesota, two times as much ... I don't think our job is done.""
The board met Thursday to discuss the issues it faces regarding tuition and financial aid. The board is having difficulty meeting its financial aid policy goals of equal access to all high school graduates, retention of UW System students and ""brain gain,"" which uses financial aid to encourage UW System graduates to work in Wisconsin after graduation.
A main reason for these difficulties is the decline of enrollment by low-income students due to unaffordable tuition and insufficient financial aid.
These difficulties look like they will continue with the $22 million shortage caused by the exclusion of funding for ""hold harmless"" financial aid in Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed biennial budget. Hold harmless would provide a grant to match financial aid with dollar increase in tuition.
The board addressed this issue in its meeting Thursday by discussing how it can change the current situation.
One proposal was differential tuition. Differential tuition would make tuition prices proportional to a student's family income. According to Regent Peggy Rosenweig, ""We're getting more high-income students at UW-Madison than low. We ought to investigate whether this is an option under our current statutory authority.""
Regent Charles Pruitt urged the board to use the Accountability Report presented by UW System President Kevin Reilly to gain respect of the legislature and gain authority to set tuition and financial aid.
According to Associate Vice President of Budget and Planning Frieda Harris, ""[While] financial aid increases would be fairly commensurate with tuition increases...[differential tuition] is something we could take to the legislature.""
The Board also discussed reallocation of current resources. However, according to Student Regent Beth Richlen, ""It sounds like the other idea [differential tuition] has more support.""
The Board also discussed how students and parents need to take action in contacting state legislators themselves. According to Reilly, ""This isn't something they get a lot of letters about.""
Regent Danae Davis added, ""What will be as persuasive as students who are affected is their parents who are affected.\
