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Governor's plan gives UW students more tuition aid

MADISON — Nearly 40,000 Wisconsin college students would get enough financial aid to offset tuition increases during the next two years under Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposal.

Doyle promised that University of Wisconsin System tuition increases would be moderate and in line with recent hikes of 5.5 percent the past two years. But he said all students from families with the state's median income of $60,000 or less would be protected from the increases.

To do that, the governor is proposing a $24 million increase for the Wisconsin Higher Education Grants received by about 25,000 UW students.

The money will be used to increase the size of grants averaging $2,270 this school year to cover expected tuition increases. The Higher Educational Aids Board is expected to approve next school year's increase, which has not been released, next week.

"They have been looking at how much tuition may go up and how to, as close as possible, raise the grants by that amount," said Connie Hutchison, executive director of the board.

Doyle also has proposed a new $12 million aid program for students from families who do not qualify for those grants but earn less than $60,000. That money will be given out in grants to offset tuition increases and, if possible, cover unmet need, UW System spokesman David Giroux said.

He estimated 13,000 students would benefit from the program.

"It is an extraordinary measure recognizing the extraordinary circumstances that our families find themselves in," Giroux said. "The current crisis could be worsened if we have large numbers of students stepping out of college or not coming because of the price barrier."