Question re: Wisconsin Undergraduate Initiative

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Wisconsin
1

<p>I just read that this has passed, which will result in a surcharge, if you will, of $7500 over four years on out of state families making over 80k a year. My question is this: how do they know if you're making over 80k a year if you're not applying for financial aid? Is the plan to tell everyone that you have to pay unless you can prove that you don't?</p>

2

<p>The following suggestion is on page 2 of this memo to the UW Regents from Dr. Noel Radomski:</p>

<p>“Require all undergraduates to complete a FAFSA before enrolling at UW–Madison, although an ‘opt out’ option can be added for personal and philosophical reasons.”
<a href=“http://media.journalinteractive.com/documents/WISCAPE_Memo_to_Regents_050709.pdf[/url]”>http://media.journalinteractive.com/documents/WISCAPE_Memo_to_Regents_050709.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m guessing the ‘opt out’ would include an automatic required payment of the surcharge.</p>

<p>I find the following comment from the same memo somewhat offensive:</p>

<p>“…send the message to hard-working Wisconsin families that they will not have to pay a tuition surcharge in addition to a tuition increase.”</p>

<p>The implication seems to be that only families who earn less than $80,000 per year are ‘hard-working.’ C’mon… 'fess up… I know many of you are just lounging around eating bon bons and collecting $80,000+ per year for doing little to nothing to earn it. ;)</p>

3

<p>In case anyone was wondering, the 80,000 of income is a reference to adjusted gross income, not taxable income.</p>

4

<p>hard-working is just the new code for blue collar and lower income working people. It says we know you work hard–too bad you don’t make better money. Sending you kids to college might change that.</p>

5

<p>…and your kids get to graduate with less debt because we’ll make others take on more loans. Those others don’t qualify for the ‘hold harmless’ exemption even though the $35,000 per year (and climbing) OOS UW COA is ALREADY nearly a full 44% of that $80,000 cut off. Never mind the fact that some families have two or more in college at the same time. Screw 'em - you’ll get your freebie while we drive even more of the middle class OOSers away. :frowning: </p>

<p>Sorry for the rant. This wealth redistribution UW ‘initiative’ is NOT good news for us. We’re not even wealthy. …At least Obama doesn’t think so. :&lt;/p>