[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]The State Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities held a public hearing last week to discuss a number of proposed Assembly bills that, if passed, could affect the University of Wisconsin System.

AB 895, authored by Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, would increase the maximum amount of Wisconsin higher-education grants from $2,500 to $3,000 in an attempt to help students most in need to afford a UW education.

"It would give that little bit extra to those that do qualify (for a WHEG award)," Ballweg said.

UW System students from across the state traveled to the State Capitol to witness the hearing or testify in support, hopeful that the bill would be entered into an executive session to receive committee approval. The bill would then be scheduled for an Assembly vote.

Under current law, needy students who demonstrate extraordinary financial circumstances are eligible to receive a WHEG award from the state to help pay for tuition costs.

According to UW Financial Student Services Director Susan Fischer, about 4.4 percent of the university's resident student body receives WHEG awards. These students, she said, would greatly benefit from an increased cap.

UW System President Kevin Reilly also spoke at the public hearing, voicing his support for the increased-cap bill.

"The Board of Regents and I are and have been deeply committed to keeping [a UW education] affordable," Reilly said. "Unless we increase the WHEG maximum, these nearly 6,000 students … will face an increased tuition without an increased WHEG award."

Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, raised concerns over the effect of raising the cap for individual grants without increasing the state's total funds allocated to the WHEG system.

"If you don't increase the pot … there will be less available for other students," Black said, pointing to the fact that giving more funds to some students will mean giving less to others.

Black further suggested the bill include an appropriation to make more total state financial aid available so people are not misled into believing all awards will be increased by a full $500 when it is only a maximum, not guaranteed, figure.

Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, agreed total financial aid should be increased to allow more qualified students, regardless of their financial assets, to attend UW schools.

"I think the university has become a wimp, and you don't take us on as you should," Schneider told Reilly, adding the UW System should request more financial-aid funds from the state. "I'm very concerned the university is in danger, Mr. President, of becoming an elitist institution. … That's undemocratic."

Brian Tanner, spokesperson for the system-wide United Council of UW Students, also pointed to the danger of UW schools losing out on qualified students, but spoke in favor of the bill.

Committee members also reviewed a separate initiative, AB 882, which was put forward by lead author Ballweg.

The bill states the student member of the Board of Regents cannot be reelected or replaced by another student from the same institution he or she attended at the time of appointment.

Current law mandates the student member cannot be from the same university as the previous member, but fails to clarify which regulations apply in the case of a student transferring schools in the middle of the two-year term.

"We are in full support of clarifying this issue and making sure we have as wide [a] pool as possible for students who apply," Tanner said.

The committee hearing ended before entering into executive session. An executive session is expected to be held Jan. 24, before the legislative session begins again.