Spring Break
Tuition cuts for alumni offspring
Return to Wisconsin program gives breaks to relatives of UW-Eau Claire graduates living out of the state
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Campus News
The UW System Board of Regents is scheduled to examine the renewal of a program that gives discounted tuition to children and grandchildren of alumni living in other states.
System President Kevin Reilly will recommend the extension of the Return to Wisconsin tuition program to the Board of Regents' Business, Finance and Audit Committee Friday at the Board's March meeting in Oshkosh.
UW-Eau Claire and seven other UW System schools currently participate in the program, which cuts nonresidential tuition by 25 percent for students whose relative graduated from the same university; the discount is restricted to tuition only.
First approved in 2003 as a pilot program, Return to Wisconsin garnered 49 students statewide during the 2006-2007 academic year, up from 36 in 2005-2006, according to System records - an increase that has System officials optimistic for the program's future.
"The numbers of students participating have gone up this year, and extending the program will allow us to look at that a bit more," UW System spokeswoman Kate Dixon said.
While the program cuts nonresidential tuition by 25 percent, the resulting amount is still higher than residential tuition, Dixon said.
"(The program is) a nice benefit to see if we could attract students back to Wisconsin … who might not otherwise be able to afford to," said Kris Anderson, Eau Claire's director of Admissions. "It's (also) one of those programs that doesn't displace any Wisconsin students at all."
Senior Nicole Heier said she disagreed, explaining it wouldn't necessarily be a positive thing for everyone.
"I probably wouldn't be in favor of (the program) because it might give a step up for people who aren't first-generation college students," she said.
System officials have also said the program contributes to what they call a "geographic diversity" that brings students from different states.
"We don't have a lot of students from states like Michigan, Illinois and Texas," Anderson said. "Anytime we can diversify the campus, it is certainly a (positive) thing."
System President Kevin Reilly will recommend the extension of the Return to Wisconsin tuition program to the Board of Regents' Business, Finance and Audit Committee Friday at the Board's March meeting in Oshkosh.
UW-Eau Claire and seven other UW System schools currently participate in the program, which cuts nonresidential tuition by 25 percent for students whose relative graduated from the same university; the discount is restricted to tuition only.
First approved in 2003 as a pilot program, Return to Wisconsin garnered 49 students statewide during the 2006-2007 academic year, up from 36 in 2005-2006, according to System records - an increase that has System officials optimistic for the program's future.
"The numbers of students participating have gone up this year, and extending the program will allow us to look at that a bit more," UW System spokeswoman Kate Dixon said.
While the program cuts nonresidential tuition by 25 percent, the resulting amount is still higher than residential tuition, Dixon said.
"(The program is) a nice benefit to see if we could attract students back to Wisconsin … who might not otherwise be able to afford to," said Kris Anderson, Eau Claire's director of Admissions. "It's (also) one of those programs that doesn't displace any Wisconsin students at all."
Senior Nicole Heier said she disagreed, explaining it wouldn't necessarily be a positive thing for everyone.
"I probably wouldn't be in favor of (the program) because it might give a step up for people who aren't first-generation college students," she said.
System officials have also said the program contributes to what they call a "geographic diversity" that brings students from different states.
"We don't have a lot of students from states like Michigan, Illinois and Texas," Anderson said. "Anytime we can diversify the campus, it is certainly a (positive) thing."
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