A commission originally launched to examine the future of Wisconsin's two-year colleges will recommend the UW System consider granting students free tuition if they live and work in the state for 10 years following graduation.
The state commission, organized by UW Colleges Chancellor David Nelson, unanimously agreed to look further into the possibility of offering the tuition to a UW school in an effort to retain more Wisconsin graduates in the state.
According to Roger Axtell, commission co-chair and former UW regent, the idea is "big and bold" and will likely face many critics.
"We have to think big," Axtell said. "We have to start thinking about how we're going to jump-start the whole university system."
And critics will likely include newly appointed chair of the state Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, who told The Badger Herald Monday he does not think the idea will go very far.
Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, also had questions about the plan — particularly over its cost — but applauded the commission for thinking outside the box.
The idea was brought to the commission by one of its members, Mark O'Connell, executive director of the Wisconsin Counties Association. Legislators from both sides of the aisle also serve on the commission.
One of the legislators' concerns was how such a program could be funded, but Axtell said the state could issue bonds, just as it does to pay for road construction. Axtell added the plan would also keep more tax-paying citizens in Wisconsin.
Axtell said even though the commission was formed to look at the state's two-year college system, the two-year schools play a big role in allowing students to receive bachelor degrees.
"It really doesn't fall [within] the mission of the commission," Axtell said. "But we couldn't just let it go."
Eighty percent of UW bachelor-degree graduates stay in Wisconsin, Axtell added, but he said this plan could keep even more people in the state.
Gestina Sewell, vice-chair of the UW Associated Students of Madison, said any efforts to try to improve affordability and accessibility in the state should be embraced.
According to Sewell, the United Council of UW Students will bring the idea — and other options for improving higher education affordability — to a meeting with Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.
And Sewell, who said she would sign on to the plan if it was offered to her, added that the potential benefits of providing a higher education for students could outweigh the costs the state would encounter.
"I think that's definitely something that would not hurt the state," Sewell said. "We've been looked up to as one of the most progressive systems, really standing up for higher education for a long time."
Both Axtell and Sewell noted that a similar system takes place in Ireland, and both said its economy has flourished as a result.
The idea will be one of many put in the commission's report to Nelson, Axtell added, as the first draft of the report was just completed.
