With the holiday season fast approaching, students can ask for gift cards from Best Buy, The Gap and now the UW System under a bill that allows for tuition gift certificates.
Assembly Bill 27, authored by state Reps. Mark Gottlieb, R-Port Washington and Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, passed the state Assembly 71-23 and state Senate in a voice vote and is currently awaiting the governor's signature.
The bill calls for the establishment of a gift certificate program for the payment of student tuition.
According to Gottlieb, the bill originated in the 2003 session by state Rep. Greg Huber, D-Schofield. The idea behind the bill is to mimic a tuition scholarship program without the costs of administrative overhead. The gift certificates are intended for anyone's use to be given to Wisconsin students as a monetary gift by charity organizations or student families.
'It provides useful opportunities?? for people to help students out with their tuition,' Gottlieb said.
Doyle is currently on a trade mission to Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland but is expected to sign the bill upon his return.
'The Governor supports the legislation and plans on signing it,' said Anne Lupardus, Gov. Jim Doyle's spokesperson. 'He supports a program whereby individuals can contribute to the education of university students.'
The gift certificate program is expected to be financially self-sufficient.
'The administrative cost of running the program can be recouped in charges for the gift certificates,' said Margaret Lewis, UW System spokesperson.
Officials said the use of gift certificates for the payment of tuition should have little impact on the finances of the university, but the program could affect financial aid.
'It's always good when someone is helping someone pay for their education,' said Susan Fischer, director of student financial services. 'It could impact their financial aid possibly because the federal government has its own rules?? it could impact some aid eligibility for the next year.'
The certificates could be used for studying abroad and would expire two years after the date of purchase unless the holder is called into military service.
