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Tuition to increase by at least 4 percent
State funding decrease partially responsible; SA seeks tuition freeze
By Tyler Casey
"Many of the students who come here are the first in their families to go to college. How much longer can we attract students from lower income families if we let tuition rise?"Brian Bromberek, academic affairs director for the Student Association
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will see tuition increase by at least 4 percent next year, a rate that some feel is unfair to prospective students.
Brian Bromberek, the academic affairs director for the Student Association (SA) at UWM, said that the increase is "pricing students out" of a college education in Wisconsin.
"Many of the students who come here are the first in their families to go to college," Bromberek said. "How much longer can we attract students from lower income families if we let tuition rise?"
In a letter to Gov. Jim Doyle dated April 23, Bromberek said that "the state must reinvest in its own students" and recommends a tuition freeze.
Bromerek said that a committee has been formed to study why tuition has been increasing, and that lack of state support is one of the main factors.
While he hopes to rally more students to his cause, Bromberek understands that student lobbying only goes so far. He is trying to get in touch with state legislators. Bromberek said the key to a more affordable UWM is increased support from the state government.
"The best thing to help lower tuition is adequate state support," Bromberek said.
While the state has pledged $8 million to UWM for research funding, both students and university higher ups have asked for increased state support to keep tuition lower. At a recent edition of Ask the Chancellor, UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago said that the key to making tuition more affordable is an increase in state support.
"Tuition at public institutions has historically gone up because of a decline in state support," Santiago said. "Do you want to know why tuition has gone up? Because state funding has declined."
While a tuition freeze for the upcoming academic year is unlikely, Bromberek said that the SA is committed to trying to keep tuition low. Bromberek said the committee has also looked at other options, such as recommending a slight increase in out of state reciprocity while slightly decreasing in-state tuition to balance it out.
"We need to take care of our own," Bromberek said.
Bromberek said he will continue to try and lobby the state legislature for help.
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