Student leaders gathered Monday to brainstorm plans to lobby members of a state task force on UW restructuring to consider changes to tuition policies throughout the system.
The students said linking tuition increases to specific missions of UW schools could increase accountability at the institutions, while giving them influence over tuition levels.
Some ideas the group discussed included allowing schools to increase tuition only if they meet a certain number of criteria.
For example, if schools were able to graduate students with less debt, increase job placement rates for students after graduation and recruit more in-state students from lower income levels, the school would be able to raise tuition by a certain percent.
Associated Students of Madison Chair Allie Gardner said while it might be unlikely for the legislature to approve linking tuition to system missions, students should ask the task force to consider it.
“It might be far too ideal, but I think that we should shoot for our goal and then negotiate,” Gardner said.
Gardner said when students present to the task force in May, they need to show that students across the system have common needs.
“The idea is to show a united front in specific areas that we all agree with coming from our different constituent groups,” Gardner said.
