The Board of Regents passed a preliminary resolution Friday recommending that the UW-System waive tuition for students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
The resolution recommended to the state legislature and Gov. Jim Doyle that the displaced students be placed in a special category in which they would be able to receive a semester-long in-state tuition waiver. For the most part, students will be enrolled in the Fall 2005 semester and be assigned to a special class called \Hurricane Katrina Victims."" According to Regents, it is the creation of this special class which allows the board to waive tuition.
""We did this in order to provide students the opportunity to come to Wisconsin to study while their campuses are being rebuilt,"" Student Regent Chris Semenas said. ""We discussed several different ways to not charge or otherwise provide financial aid to these students.""
As of Friday morning, 98 students from schools affected by the hurricane had applied to UW-Madison.
""These students have nothing. They're scared to death that down the road they will get a tuition bill they won't be able to afford,"" UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said.
In total, the UW System has received about 200 inquiries, with hurricane victims enrolled primarily at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee.
To qualify for tuition waivers students must have been enrolled at an institution located in places now designated as federal disaster areas.
The Board of Regents sets tuition rates, but due to state statutes they must consult with the state legislature before waiving tuition.
Board leaders will meet with legislative leadership this week to discuss available options regarding the financial viability of the plan. Much of the funding will have to come from the state budget, but the university may be able to receive federal funds to assist in covering the cost of the tuition waivers.
The legislature is expected to decide on the resolution next week.
It is unclear if the requests for aid will stabilize at any specific amount, making the precise number of extra students the UW system will handle unknown.
However, the actions taken will not affect enrollment or financial aid already established for current UW students, according to the regents.
Regent President David Walsh called for acceptance for hurricane victims at UW, saying ""Our hearts are open to these resilient students, and so must be our doors.""
