Starting this fall, UW System schools will double the cost of credit hours for students who have accumulated more than 165 credits, the result of a resolution passed by the UW System Board of Regents.
Although former Gov. Scott McCallum vetoed a similar measure that had passed the Wisconsin state Legislature in the summer of 2002, the UW System Board of Regents passed the proposal in December 2002.
But one regent said the board may have felt urging from outside sources to implement the measure.
\I think, candidly, that the regents felt some pressure from state government to prohibit students taking excessive credits,"" former Regent president and current Regent Guy Gottschalk said.
The program the regents passed is designed to encourage students to graduate and progress more quickly through school, according to UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear. Most majors require approximately 120 credits for graduation.
The new policy effectively eliminates state subsidies for undergraduate education.
""Resident undergraduate tuition covers slightly less than half the cost of education, so the 100 percent surcharge effectively means the individual is now paying for the cost of his or her education,"" Spear said.
Students have the right to appeal the application of this surcharge to the academic dean of his or her school or college.
""There is certainly a recognition on campus that students change majors, that they sometimes take two or three majors, they sometimes study abroad,"" Spear said. ""This is a time for exploration and testing new ideas and so there's certainly leeway for students who exceed that number of credits for justifiable reasons.""
Student Regent Beth Richlen questioned the importance of this measure, citing the fact that the small number of students the 165 credit affects are not a financial or other burden on the university.
""This is going to impact [very] few students, and affect them in such a hugely negative way,"" Richlen said.
Tuition costs for next year will be approximately $225 per credit, according to Craig Stevens, Info System systems development services senior at the office of the registrar. This would put the cost of a four-credit class at approximately $900 and a four-credit class with the surcharge about $1,800.
According to Spear, regents felt the extra cost will be an effective measure to encourage academic progress.
""I think the motivation for this was students who just hang out without a focus, without selecting a major,"" Spear said. ""Adding a penalty if students accumulate a large number of credits would be an incentive for people not to do that.\
