Government Relations

Government Relations Legislative Update

Government Relations Legislative Update

Updates on state and federal issues relating to the UW System.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

JFC Action on Reciprocity and WI Covenant programs

WI-Minn Reciprocity supplemental payments to be phased out.

On May 24, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) unanimously approved a measure that maintains the Wisconsin-Minnesota Reciprocity program but phases out funding for supplemental payments provided to Wisconsin residents who attend Minnesota schools. The Committee voted to ensure that students who enroll this fall would still be eligible. However, students first enrolling during the 2012-13 academic year would no longer qualify for the reciprocity supplemental payment and instead would pay the higher Minnesota tuition rate if enrolled at a Minnesota campus.  See Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo here.

Wisconsin Covenant Scholars program to sunset.

The JFC also voted 12-4 to sunset The Wisconsin Covenant Scholars program. The committee's action would permanently close the program to new enrollees on September 30, 2011.  The committee also approved transferring the administration of the program from the Department of Administration (DOA) to the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB). See related budget paper here.

Upcoming Committee meetings

JFC will resume budget deliberation on Thursday, May 26.  The Wisconsin Technical College System will be among the agenda items heard that day.  The Committee is also scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 31. See agendas and related budget papers here.