Top Dem Joins Calls For UW Tuition Freeze

A top Democrat is joining the chorus of Republicans urging a tuition freeze at the University of Wisconsin following news that the UW has $650 million in reserves.

Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Peter Barca authored a letter to the UW citing the sizable tuition hikes at the University going back to 2003. He said it was clear that the UW was able to accumulate its cash reserves because of tuition. Now, Barca says, they should not only freeze tuition, they should find ways to make college more affordable.

“We’re hoping that they’ll analyze if there’s enough of a balance there to increase financial aid dollars for students, especially for Wisconsin students that struggle to be able to go to college, or possibly to look at lowering tuition as opposed to just freezing it.”

Barca’s letter came on the same day Governor Scott Walker’s administration said it would revise its budget to include a tuition freeze. The UW says that while it should have been more transparent about its reserves, they’re in line with other universities throughout the country.