UW tuition freeze to stay under Walker

University officials worry about impact

MADISON – GOP Gov. Scott Walker plans to extend the tuition freeze at University of Wisconsin campuses for four more years if he is re-elected, even as UW officials say they fear continuing it could hurt the quality of the education they provide.

“He will continue to freeze UW tuition during his next term,” Walker spokesman Austin Altenburg said in a statement.

If enacted, Walker’s plans would mean the undergraduate tuition freeze for state residents would be in place for 10 years. He began it six years ago with the help of Republicans who control the Legislature.

Walker’s Democratic rivals are di-

vided on whether to freeze tuition or cut it. The Democrats are at odds with Walker on making technical colleges free and reducing student loan debt.

UW officials have hoped to change directions. UW System President Ray Cross told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he wanted to see tuition go up at the rate of inflation, saying without a tuition hike, “we start to put quality in jeopardy.”

“I don’t want to close any of these campuses,” Cross said. “I want to explore every alternative I can.”

The Democrats seeking to replace Walker want to put more taxpayer money toward higher education but are split on what to do about tuition.

State Schools Superintendent Tony Evers, firefighters union president Mahlon Mitchell and lawyer Josh Pade said they would keep the freeze in place.

Former state Democratic Party Chairman Matt Flynn, liberal activist Mike McCabe and former state Rep. Kelda Roys said they would cut tuition.

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said he would be unlikely to raise tuition, and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout said she would rely on the recommendation of the UW Board of Regents, which for now is controlled by Walker appointees.

An Aug. 14 primary will determine which Democrat will face Walker in the fall.

Wisconsin governors alone can’t determine tuition rates, but have great say in the matter because of the broad veto powers they have over state budgets.

Walker two years ago proposed cutting tuition by 5%, but Republicans who control the Legislature rejected the idea. Instead, Walker and lawmakers continued the freeze on tuition they began in 2013.

Democrats backing tuition-free tech schools

At a recent debate, seven of the eight Democrats raised their hands when asked if they supported making technical colleges and two-year colleges tuition free. Evers was the only Democrat who kept his hand down.

“I believe students should have some skin in the game,” Evers said in the debate, adding that making state institutions free could put private schools like Northland College in Ashland out of business.

Evers — who sits on the UW Board of Regents because he is the state schools superintendent — supports cutting tuition in half at state two-year colleges and technical schools.

“Those that need assistance should get the assistance they need and those that can afford to pay for college should pay for their schooling,” Evers said in a statement.

McCabe raised his hand at the debate indicating support for making technical colleges and two-year schools free, but he said in an interview he’s more focused on making college affordable than eliminating tuition entirely.

“It’s not my focus because I don’t think it’s necessary to make it tuition free for two years or any number of years, but it is necessary to make tuition affordable so that you could work your way through college without debt,” he said.

Some of the Democrats, such as Roys and Vinehout, said they would require students at technical colleges and two-year colleges to apply for any available grants, with taxpayers covering the rest of their tuition. With grants paying for some tuition, taxpayers wouldn’t be on the hook for all of it.

Mitchell said he would create a program that would allow students to perform public service to earn a tuition-free education at a community college or technical school. Students could begin their public service as early as fifth grade.

Walker has not supported eliminating tuition at technical colleges and two-year schools. Altenburg said Walker had helped keep those institutions affordable by increasing grants and investing more in worker training.

Democrats want to expand refinancing

The Democrats are united in giving Wisconsin residents more power to refinance their student loan debt. Six of the eight said they support setting up a government entity that would let people refinance their student loan debt to take advantage of lower interest rates.

Pade did not say he backed that specific program, but said he would establish a program that would allow people to perform public service in exchange for lower interest rates or forgiven loans.

Soglin also did not say he specifically backs that program. He said he would provide modest tax incentives to banks and credit unions that refinanced student loan debt at lower rates. He said he would reduce loans for those who go into public service.

Flynn supports changing how student loans are paid back by allowing borrowers to pay a percentage of their income after they graduate rather than a set monthly amount.

Walker has rejected the plan embraced by most Democrats for refinancing loans. Instead, Walker made a refinancing program through the UW Credit Union more widely available. Democrats have dismissed Walker’s plan, saying he’s essentially told debt holders to “call a bank.”