Spring Break
WSG helps to inform students about tuition increase, funding
Amy Eschenbauch
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
A state committee board, along with the help of universities, is looking into alternate forms of funding tuition.
Whitewater Student Government members Paul Sanchez, and Nick Santilli were part of the committee. Sanchez, a current WSG senator worked with Santilli, the current WSG president to get feedback to the committee.
Over the past few years, the state funding has gone down, and student tuition has gone up.
"As a student I am bothered by state funding decreasing with each passing year," Sen. Laura Plamann said. "We are a state institution. We should have adequate funding or we would have chosen to go to a private school and pay triple what we are paying now."
Not only has state funding decreased but in the last three decades tuition has gone up 173 percent.
President Santilli signed an executive order with feedback for the committee.
"We ask that all administrators in UW-system act in the best financial interests of students in order to protect our fine university system," Santilli said.
Possible reccomendations are stratifications in comprehensives (four-year universities), use of tuition to pay for financial aid, and tuition based on major throughout the UW system.
The process is just beginning and the committee will be in contact with student governments to further the decision process.
The goals of the committee are to be consistent with the Growth Agenda, by increasing the number of degrees with improved access, providing affordable access including maintaining and improving educational quality and generating sufficient revenues to improve student success.
The committee is considering several options including tuition stratification, differential tuition per credit tuition, using tuition to fund financial aid, educational savings programs, discounts for prepaying tuition, tuition guarantee, separate tuition for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, and discounts for families with multiple students enrolled in the UW system.
Tuition stratification would increase tuition to reflect the actual cost per student and show the accurate cost against declining state aide. Students would pay more for colleges in higher demand.
Fifty-three percent of UW students borrowed money to pay for their education in 2005. The group recognizes the need to provide further financial aid. Using tuition to fund financial aid would put less pressure on the state and federal budget to provide financial aid. This could help a greater number of students.
"With the cut in state aid there are people who possibly need aid more than others who are not able to go to school, and financial aid is suppose to give people the opportunity for an education," senior Andrea Wietgrefe said.
Whitewater Student Government members Paul Sanchez, and Nick Santilli were part of the committee. Sanchez, a current WSG senator worked with Santilli, the current WSG president to get feedback to the committee.
Over the past few years, the state funding has gone down, and student tuition has gone up.
"As a student I am bothered by state funding decreasing with each passing year," Sen. Laura Plamann said. "We are a state institution. We should have adequate funding or we would have chosen to go to a private school and pay triple what we are paying now."
Not only has state funding decreased but in the last three decades tuition has gone up 173 percent.
President Santilli signed an executive order with feedback for the committee.
"We ask that all administrators in UW-system act in the best financial interests of students in order to protect our fine university system," Santilli said.
Possible reccomendations are stratifications in comprehensives (four-year universities), use of tuition to pay for financial aid, and tuition based on major throughout the UW system.
The process is just beginning and the committee will be in contact with student governments to further the decision process.
The goals of the committee are to be consistent with the Growth Agenda, by increasing the number of degrees with improved access, providing affordable access including maintaining and improving educational quality and generating sufficient revenues to improve student success.
The committee is considering several options including tuition stratification, differential tuition per credit tuition, using tuition to fund financial aid, educational savings programs, discounts for prepaying tuition, tuition guarantee, separate tuition for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, and discounts for families with multiple students enrolled in the UW system.
Tuition stratification would increase tuition to reflect the actual cost per student and show the accurate cost against declining state aide. Students would pay more for colleges in higher demand.
Fifty-three percent of UW students borrowed money to pay for their education in 2005. The group recognizes the need to provide further financial aid. Using tuition to fund financial aid would put less pressure on the state and federal budget to provide financial aid. This could help a greater number of students.
"With the cut in state aid there are people who possibly need aid more than others who are not able to go to school, and financial aid is suppose to give people the opportunity for an education," senior Andrea Wietgrefe said.
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