The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents has enthusiastically adopted the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, paving the way for improvements in undergraduate education and affordability at UW-Madison.
The initiative is a way to preserve the long-term value of a UW-Madison degree and to provide a significant need-based financial aid fund.
It will provide more faculty and instructional support to improve access to high-demand courses and majors, classroom innovations and student support services.
This site contains a wealth of information on the initiative and its background. It will be regularly updated as a way to provide both public accountability and important news as the initiative unfolds.
The four-year initiative, and its supplemental tuition charge, begins with the 2009-10 academic year.
Financial aid guidance
UW-Madison financial aid officials offer the following guidance to students and their families in anticipation of the initiative taking effect:
“To provide the benefits of the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, starting in 2009-10, undergraduates will be assessed a differential tuition charge of $250 and non-resident undergraduate students will be assessed a $750 differential tuition charge; students from Minnesota will not be affected due to reciprocity agreements.
Undergraduates with parent adjusted gross incomes (AGI) below $80,000 or independent students with AGI below $80,000 and who have demonstrated financial need through the financial aid process will be awarded a grant to offset this differential tuition charge.
To be considered for this “hold-harmless” grant, a student must apply for financial aid and complete the application process. Those who have already applied for aid and are eligible for this grant will have it automatically added to their award. If you have not yet applied for aid, but would like to be considered for this grant, you need to start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.
Please keep in mind that with the number of students who will be eligible to receive this funding, it may take us several months to update each student’s financial aid award. However, our goal is to update all eligible students’ aid awards by the start of the fall semester.”
