Members of the UW Board of Regents are raising concerns about a program that offers free tuition benefits to veterans.
Under a state law passed in 2006, the University of Wisconsin System must provide those benefits to military veterans, but the program was not fully funded by lawmakers in the current state budget. As a result, UW System spokesman David Giroux says campuses across the state have to absorb the extra cost. State funding is only covering about a quarter of the cost of the program, leaving the UW to cover near $40 million in extra costs.
The Board of Regents could vote on a resolution later this week that calls on lawmakers to fully fund the benefits. Giroux says members fully the support the law and feel it provides a valuable tool for helping veterans rejoin civilian life. However, he says the state should be covering the cost to provide it, rather than forcing the UW to absorb the extra cost from their budget.