WAICU Issues Urgent Call to Action as Senate Considers Harmful Higher Education Proposals
WAICU has issued an urgent Call to Action to our network in response to the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill, which passed the House on May 22 and is now under consideration in the Senate. This mobilization effort urges advocates to contact Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson to oppose the concerning provisions that would significantly harm access to higher education in Wisconsin and the financial health of many of our colleges and universities.
If enacted, the bill would penalize private, nonprofit colleges through a “risk-sharing” provision based on student loan outcomes. The bill would also jeopardize educational access, by cutting Pell Grant eligibility for less-than-full-time students and raise the full-time enrollment threshold. The bill places a cap on graduate student borrowing, and ties federal aid to national median program costs, which would disproportionately harm private colleges. It would also impose a significant increase in taxes on university endowments.
The stakes are high for higher education in this Reconciliation bill. WAICU is asking our members and all of those who are associated with our colleges and universities to activate their communities, raise their voices, and urge our senators to oppose these harmful measures.
Take action now to contact your senators!
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For more information email WAICU Executive Vice President for External Relations Rebecca Larson.