The University of Wisconsin-Madison has pledged to cover the full cost of a college degree for students from Wisconsin Indian tribes under a new program announced Monday.
The program is called the Wisconsin Tribal Education Promise and is scheduled to launch next fall. Unlike the university’s other academic promise program, this program is not based on financial need. All registered members of Wisconsin tribes are eligible.
At the heart of this initiative is an attempt to reckon with the university’s complex history with indigenous communities in a more tangible way than its previous largely symbolic gestures. UW-Madison also wants to help the demographic of students struggling to get into college by removing financial barriers.
“Honestly, it seemed like the right thing to do,” Jennifer Mnookin, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said during a news conference. “As we look at ways to honor the history of this state and what happened before Wisconsin became Wisconsin, and as we think about trying to help Native students thrive here, this seems like the right approach.”
Although the program has been in the works for more than a year, the official announcement comes a week after the University of Wisconsin Board of Trustees approved a deal with the Republican-controlled Legislature for state money in exchange for restructuring dozens of diverse recruiting positions. This compromise led students of color to question the university’s commitment to diversity programs.
“I have said and will continue to say that diversity is a core value for us as an institution here at UW-Madison,” Mnookin said. “This program is another example of the ways that will remain true.”
Here’s what you should know:
Who is eligible for the Tribal Education Promise Program in Wisconsin?
Incoming and current students must be enrolled as members of federally recognized Wisconsin Indian Tribes to qualify. They must provide proof of registration through a tribal ID card or letter.
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What does the program include?
UW-Madison will cover not only tuition and fees, but also housing, meals, books, and other educational expenses for undergraduate students.
For medical and law students, a five-year pilot program will cover tuition and fees, but not books or living expenses.
How is the program funded?
No state taxpayer money supports the program, Mnookin said. A mix of philanthropic and institutional funding, such as tuition revenue from out-of-state students, is funding the effort.
University of Wisconsin-Madison officials did not provide an estimated cost for the program. This is partly because they do not know how many qualified students will gain admission and enroll.
How many students will benefit?
About 650 UW-Madison students identify themselves as American Indian, alone or in association with other races, according to university data.
This number includes Native students from other states and students who do not meet tribal enrollment requirements, none of whom will qualify for the Wisconsin Tribal Education Promise.
UW-Madison officials don’t know how many Wisconsin students will benefit. Mnookin said she doesn’t think there will be a large number to start but she expects the number of indigenous students to grow in the coming years.
“We hope that more Native students will take a second look at UW-Madison and realize that we are not out of touch,” said Carla Feig, director of tribal relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “And I want Native students to know that once we are here, we have the supports and services that can help them succeed and feel a true sense of belonging.”
Why is UW-Madison launching the program?
Indigenous students have historically faced significant challenges getting into and staying in college. They have the lowest college enrollment rate of any demographic group in the country, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
While seeking feedback about the program from Native students and tribal leaders, Mnookin said she heard from someone who slept in his car while in college. Another cannot afford meals. Many of them shared how they gave up studying abroad or an unpaid internship experience for financial reasons.
“This is why it is so important that we include the full cost of attendance for undergraduate students,” Mnookin said in a statement. Full access to everything UW–Madison has to offer.
Has Wisconsin previously tried to launch a tuition waiver program for Native students earlier?
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers included a provision allowing students from federally recognized tribes to receive in-state tuition in his 2021-2023 state budget proposal, but it did not make it through the legislative process.
A similar bipartisan bill in the 2019 session failed to attract interest.
How does the UW-Madison program compare nationally?
Some public universities, including Maine, Montana, and Michigan, have offered tuition waiver programs for decades.
Other states have recently launched programs for Native students, including the University of Minnesota in 2021 and Oregon State University in 2022.
As of last year, 14 states with colleges and universities offered in-state tuition or tuition waivers for Native American students, according to a 2022 UW-Madison report.
Shannon Hulsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsey Band of Mohican Indians and president of the Great Lakes Tribal Council, said Wisconsin’s program stands out from others in covering the full cost of college.
She described it as “historic and a cycle-breaker.”
What else has UW-Madison done for Native students?
Indigenous communities have a complex relationship with land-grant universities.
In 1832, the United States government demanded that the Ho-Chunk people surrender a vast territory, including the land where the University of Wisconsin-Madison was located. The Ho-Chunk tribe lived in the area about 12,000 years before the treaty.
Additionally, in 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, which gave states public lands on the condition that the land be sold or used for profit and that the proceeds be used to establish at least one agricultural college. Wisconsin received 235,530 acres under this legislation.
High Country News, a media outlet covering the American West, drew attention to the arrangement in 2020, reporting on how lands taken from tribal nations had been turned into a source of funding for 52 land-grant universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Since 2016, UW-Madison has attempted to engage in course correction, in an effort to educate students about the truth behind the history of the state and university, and to build better relationships with Wisconsin’s tribes.
In 2019, for example, the university hired its first tribal director and dedicated a new sign on Bascom Hill recognizing the campus as the ancestral homeland of the Ho Chunk Tribe. Then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank said the sign would begin to move the campus “from ignorance to awareness.”
Contact Kelly Mayerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMayerhofer.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has taken a significant step in addressing the issue of accessibility and affordability in higher education with the launch of the Original Education Promise program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide financial support and resources to first-generation college students, ensuring that they have the opportunities and resources necessary to succeed. By investing in these students, the university is not only expanding access to higher education, but also working to create a more diverse and inclusive campus community. The Original Education Promise program is a testament to the university’s commitment to equity and opportunity for all students, and sets a new standard for educational institutions across the country.