For More Information Contact:
Rep. Sue Jeskewitz (608) 266-3796
(Madison)… Legislation authored by Representative Sue Jeskewitz (R-Menomonee Falls) allowing the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) to offer resident tuition to qualified, needy students who are victims of Hurricane Katrina became law today when the Governor signed Assembly Bill 805 (AB 805).
“Hurricane victims who have relocated to Wisconsin now have a way to begin or continue their job skills training,” Jeskewitz commented. “This is not a free ride; it is a great way to assist the people who came to our state when they had no where else to go.”
The technical college system already offered resident tuition to qualified needy and worthy students, but the number of allowable students is capped at 0.5 percent of the full-time equivalent statewide enrollment. “It was critical to expand the statutes and increase the previously allowable number of students into this category, so the WTCS could accommodate them without affecting other students,” stated Jeskewitz.
Current Wisconsin Administrative Code gives priority admission to wait list applicants, and Katrina victims would be considered only after those applicants were offered admission. A hurricane victim could not ‘bump’ another student from entry into the WTCS.
“This is a win-win for Wisconsin and these displaced citizens who may ultimately remain in our state and contribute to our communities.” Jeskewitz emphasized that while WTCS has not yet exceeded their capacity for the needy, worthy category, this law is a failsafe in case these out of state students are able to enroll in our technical college system.
