The UW System Board of Regents reported a 500-percent increase in the number of students eligible for the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant who will not receive funding this year.
The Wisconsin Higher Education Aids Board projected that approximately 4,900 students will not receive the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant. Associate Vice President Freda Harris said 3,500 students are on the waiting list.
Harris said eligible students will not receive the grant because of insufficient funding. The WHEG program is available to undergraduate students who have demonstrated financial need.
In other news, the board temporarily suspended the requirement of written certification from health care providers for UW faculty who miss more than five consecutive working days because of the H1NI virus.
The board implemented the waiver for faculty to promote self-isolation and decrease the number of people exposed to the virus. The Regents said students and faculty are constantly updated with guidelines to avoid and treat flu-like symptoms.
According to UW System spokesperson David Giroux, the policy suspension was done in accordance with recommendations given by the Center for Disease Control.
UHS Executive Director Dr. Sarah Van Orman reported 198 illnesses last week with over 90 percent reported as H1N1. Van Orman indicated that UW-Madison does not anticipate canceling any large-scale events at this time.
