On December 6, 2023, Governor Evers signed into law 2023 Wisconsin Act 80. This legislation updated state statutes relating to student financial aid, effective beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. The focus was primarily on bringing state statutes into better alignment with the recent changes to federal financial aid policy and processes, and on improving the awarding parameters for the Wisconsin Grant.
State statutory references to “family contribution” had to be updated due the Federal Department of Education’s change from Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to Student Aid Index (SAI). The act also repealed the state statutes that made students ineligible for state financial aid if they were required to register with Selective Service but had not registered. This same eligibility requirement had already been eliminated at the federal level.
Act 80 also made changes to the statutes governing the Wisconsin Grant to remove the maximum award cap and allow for greater flexibility for awarding based on enrollment level. The Wisconsin Grant is the state’s primary need-based financial aid program. Over 4,000 students receive the Wisconsin Grant at UW–Madison.
This was all the result of a collaborative effort over two years between the UW System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Tribal Colleges located in Wisconsin. Several members of our own Office of Student Financial Aid team were involved with developing the recommended statutory changes and supporting the resulting bill through the legislative process – Helen Faith, Jeff Pfund, Katy Weisenburger, and John Whitt.
On December 6, 2023, Governor Evers signed into law 2023 Wisconsin Act 80. This legislation updated state statutes relating to student financial aid, effective beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. The focus was primarily on bringing state statutes into better alignment with the recent changes to federal financial aid policy and processes, and on improving the awarding parameters for the Wisconsin Grant.
State statutory references to “family contribution” had to be updated due the Federal Department of Education’s change from Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to Student Aid Index (SAI). The act also repealed the state statutes that made students ineligible for state financial aid if they were required to register with Selective Service but had not registered. This same eligibility requirement had already been eliminated at the federal level.
Act 80 also made changes to the statutes governing the Wisconsin Grant to remove the maximum award cap and allow for greater flexibility for awarding based on enrollment level. The Wisconsin Grant is the state’s primary need-based financial aid program. Over 4,000 students receive the Wisconsin Grant at UW–Madison.
This was all the result of a collaborative effort over two years between the UW System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Tribal Colleges located in Wisconsin. Several members of our own Office of Student Financial Aid team were involved with developing the recommended statutory changes and supporting the resulting bill through the legislative process – Helen Faith, Jeff Pfund, Katy Weisenburger, and John Whitt.