State Lawmakers Pass Bill Requiring State Universities to Admit Top Academic Performers from High Schools

Thursday, February 15th, 2024 -- 9:00 AM

(Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio) State universities would be required to admit the top academic performers from Wisconsin high schools under a Republican measure passed by state lawmakers Tuesday.

According to Rich Kremer with Wisconsin Public Radio, the plan would enshrine in state law part of a GOP-authored deal that unlocked state funds for university pay raises and building projects in exchange for new limits on campus diversity, equity and inclusion programs, or DEI.

The bill would require the University of Wisconsin-Madison to admit the top five percent of students from state high schools. Other Universities of Wisconsin campuses would be required to admit the top 10 percent of high school students.

The bill was first introduced in June amid GOP concerns that UW-Madison rejects high-achieving, in-state students and favoring out-of-state applicants. The idea later became part of a compromise between Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and the UW System Board of Regents late last year.

Vos blocked pre-approved pay raises for UW employees for months while demanding that campus diversity, equity and inclusion programs be eliminated. In December, regents approved a deal with Vos that unlocked the funding for raises and campus building projects.

In exchange, regents agreed to support the automatic admissions policy and new limits on DEI staffing and programs. The bill heads next to the governor’s desk. Evers has been sharply critical of the deal, which was struck against his wishes.

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