UW schools should cater to Wisconsin students first

The growth continues at University Wisconsin campuses. But that may make it harder for Wisconsin high-schoolers to get in to UW schools. The UW Board of Regents has eliminated the cap on out-of-state students, starting with next year’s freshman class. UW wanted the cap lifted, claiming it will help meet Wisconsin’s future workforce needs. Critics say this is all about money. With the legislature instituting sharp budget cuts to the UW system, the state’s public universities are working harder to attract out of state and international students, who pay much higher tuition than in-state students. That is how we see it. Letting more out of state students in will make it harder for in-state students to gain admission. The plan also may lead to larger class sizes, make it harder for students to enroll in the classes they need, and ultimately delay their graduation. That isn’t good for anyone, except the University’s Registrar office. And the argument that allowing more students from outside of Wisconsin into our public universities will somehow help Wisconsin’s workforce doesn’t make sense. A higher percentage of students from outside Wisconsin will leave the state to look for work after getting their degree. The University of Wisconsin System schools should have their top priority be educating Wisconsin students, not fattening their bottom line.