Lawmakers debate banning race-based college scholarships, minority loan programs

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For years, the use of race in scholarship applications has been debated nationwide, and now the issue is dividing lawmakers as Republicans seek to eliminate the practice.

Rep. Nik Rettinger (R-Mukwonago) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay) proposed legislation that would prevent colleges and universities from considering race and ethnicity when reviewing scholarship, loan, and grant applications.

During a public hearing on the bill Thursday, Rettinger testified about how these opportunities should be made available for all disadvantaged students, not just students of color.

"I think this is proactive and forward thinking," Rettinger said. "I think shifting to different criteria that better represents everyone will allow us to have that equal opportunity to apply."

The bill specifies that a student’s "race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion may not be considered, either directly or indirectly."

The push to eliminate race-based criteria for financial programs at Wisconsin colleges and universities was anticipated.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) indicated this summer Republicans would look to end race-based programs after the U.S Supreme Court effectively banned campuses from considering race in the admission process.

The move could impact the overall disbursement of aid because minority students on average have a "greater financial need, than non-underrepresented minority students," according to the Universities of Wisconsin.

During the 2021-22 school year, 21,487 underrepresented minority students enrolled at all UW-campuses received financial aid and nearly 80% of those students had demonstrated financial need based on the Federal Needs analysis methodology.

Democrats fear the bill could create even greater racial disparities not only in higher education but also have a ripple effect on K-12 schools. That's because the proposal would also impact loan programs for minority teachers, which Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) believes could widen racial inequalities in schools.

"This won't just affect people in college, it will affect your kid in public school, not only now, but down the road," Shankland said. "And it can seriously exacerbate the already existing teacher shortage crisis."

The bill is still in its beginning stages, but if the GOP-Controlled Legislature passed it it's unlikely to become law. Britt Cudaback, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers, signaled he would veto the bill.

"Gov. Evers has full confidence that the UW and other state agencies are perfectly capable of adhering to U.S. Supreme Court decisions without the unsolicited help of Republicans in the Legislature who’ve shown they neither understand nor appreciate higher education in Wisconsin," Cudaback said.