Victims' tuition may be waived...read on

[IMustBeCrazy]

victims' tuition may be waived

the associated press

west bend-the university of wisconsin system board of regents said friday it will waive fall tuition for students impacted by hurricane katrina as long as legislative leaders approve.

board president david walsh said the waiver could be made official as early as next week for students who transferred to university of wisconsin institutions after the storm closed their gulf coast schools.

in the meantime, the board agreed friday not to bill the affected students for the fall term.

if legislators object, the regents could set a special tuition rate for them later. the board voted unanimously that any special tuition rate would not exceed that set for state residents.

spokesmen for assembly speaker john gard, r-pesh-tigo, and senate majority leader dale schultz, r-richland center, said both wanted to see details of the proposal before they could commit to it but were willing to help those displaced by the hurricane. a meeting between legislative leaders and uw officials is planned for next week.

so far, about 200 students affected by the hurricane have enrolled in the uw system, including about 100 at uw-madison and 25 at uw-milwaukee, said system spokesman doug bradley.

uw-madison chancellor john wiley urged the board to take quick action to help those who lost scholarships and financial aid at schools closed in the wake of katrina. he said some students were waiting to enroll until the regents made a final decision.

"they have no money. their financial aid packages are not portable," he said. "they are scared to death that they are going to get a bill for thousands of dollars that they can't afford."

katie nix, 18, of racine, who enrolled at the uw-madison campus after evacuating the tulane university campus the same day she arrived as the storm approached aug. 26, said the regents' action was a great move.

"it makes it a lot easier for all of us," she said.

from the official position at the uw-regents website:

text-only

return to news | news archive for immediate release

september 9, 2005 contact: doug bradley

[email protected]

[phone]

hurricane victims eligible for uw system tuition waiver

west bend ― in a strong display of humanitarian support, the university of wisconsin system board of regents unanimously voted friday to provide nonresident tuition remissions for the fall 2005 semester for college students who sustained losses as a result of hurricane katrina and may now attend uw system campuses.

"we fully recognize the impact this disaster has had on the lives of university students on the gulf coast," said uw system president kevin p. reilly. "allowing those victims to continue their education with little or no tuition cost is a way we can truly help."

on sept. 2, reilly announced the uw system's intention to assist victims of hurricane katrina by welcoming gulf coast college students to several uw campuses. in most cases, these students will enroll for the fall 2005 semester as a class of students designated by the board as "hurricane katrina victims."

students who qualify for this tuition assistance are those who were enrolled at, or had been actively attending, a higher education institution located in areas in mississippi and louisiana now designated as federal disaster areas. many colleges and universities in these areas have been closed for a semester or longer ― some indefinitely.

the board directed reilly and regent president david g. walsh to consult with legislative leadership and the governor as soon as possible regarding options to reduce, not charge, or otherwise provide financial aid support for these students for the fall 2005 semester. a special meeting of the board could be held after these consultations to establish a tuition rate for the "hurricane katrina victims." the board's actions will not affect enrollment or financial aid already established for current uw students.

"our hearts are open to these resilient students, and so must be our doors," walsh said. "serving students has always been our no. 1 priority, and we cannot think of a better way to help these students in need."

###

return to news | news archive | uw system

direct questions or comments to [email protected]

copyright 1996-var d = new date(); document.write(d.getfullyear()); 2005 , university of wisconsin system board of regents

http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/

link to uw system schools for more information on programs:

http://www.wisconsin.edu/campuses/index.htm

hopefully this may be of some help for those of you getting displaced out of your programs.

~imbc

edit to add:

uw-eau claire

uw-madison

uw-milwaukee

uw-oshkosh

all have nursing programs. madison has the university hospital on campus as well.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

U of W, take a bow! What a wonderful gesture of assistance to those affected by this storm!

[IMustBeCrazy]

updated news release:

for immediate release

september 16, 2005

contact: doug bradley

[email protected]

[phone]

uw system campuses to waive fall 2005 tuition for hurricane victims

madison ― students displaced from gulf coast colleges and universities by hurricane katrina will not be required to pay tuition costs for the fall 2005 semester if they are enrolled at any of the university of wisconsin system's 26 campuses.

the humanitarian relief was announced today by uw system president kevin p. reilly after consultations with regents, university leaders, legislative leadership and the governor.

"hurricane katrina profoundly disrupted the lives of thousands of gulf coast residents, and uw campuses want to help as best they can," reilly said. "we can truly help displaced students seeking admission this fall, many of whom are wisconsin residents choosing to return home to continue their college education."

the move followed a resolution passed unanimously by the board of regents last friday to work with the legislature to eliminate costs for a class of students the regents identified as "hurricane katrina victims." the policy to waive tuition for these students will expire following the fall 2005 semester.

if any of these students wish to compete for admission, and complete their degree in wisconsin, they will be charged for all the uw credits they earn and apply toward a uw degree. however, it is expected that the majority of displaced students will apply credits earned in fall 2005 at their home institutions, where they have already paid tuition. uw system institutions may seek reimbursement from the home institutions where those students had already paid tuition.

"i'm pleased that we are able to work hand-in-hand with legislative leadership and the governor to support these students when they need it most," reilly added. "even though we are stretching our capacity in these extraordinary circumstances, this action will not affect enrollment, financial aid or support services for current uw students. serving students remains our no. 1 priority."

###

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Good on UoW.

One point though. Please don't post entire articles. A summary and a link is much better. Thanks.