Starting
in the fall of 2004, Wisconsin resident undergraduate students who have
earned 165 credits (or 30 credits more than required for their degree
programs, whichever is greater) will be charged a surcharge, equal to 100
percent of the regular resident tuition, on credits beyond that level.
This
policy, created by the Board of Regents, views a college degree from the
perspective of a taxpayer. There are many legitimate reasons why students
might accumulate “excessive” credits. This new policy will not prevent
students from pursuing their goals, but it will be at a cost that is less
subsidized by Wisconsin taxpayers. This is not a policy that UWL can decide
whether or not to implement. This is a mandate.
The
policy covers all Wisconsin resident undergraduate students pursuing their
first bachelors degree, including students pursuing a double major.
Minnesota residents and non-residents, graduate, post-baccalaureate,
and non-degree students are not affected.
The
policy applies to all credits earned at UW System campuses and WTCS
(Wisconsin Technical College System) transfer credits accepted toward a
degree. Retroactive, AP, military, and other college transfer credits do not
count toward the total.
The
surcharge will be applied to students in the semester following the one in
which they reach the earned credit limit. The limit is 165 credits or 30
credits more than required for a degree program, whichever is greater.
The
policy becomes effective in the fall 2004 and it applies to all Wisconsin
resident students enrolled who meet the above criteria. It is not phased in.
The
surcharge will add 100 percent to the Wisconsin resident tuition routinely
charged, and it will be charged for all credits over the credit limit.
A
message appears on students’ SNAP reports when they reach 130 earned
credits. Each semester the assistants to the deans will notify students who
have reached a predetermined number of earned credits, that they are
accumulating credits at a rate that might result in them being charged the
surcharge. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
assistants to the deans. Each
semester, J Term and summer session, students who have earned 165 credits or
30 credits more than required for their programs will be billed the
surcharge. In reality,
the additional tuition will be charged to very few students.
Each student has the right to appeal the surcharge to the assistant controller, once it has been levied.