Hurricane Katrina victims who have transferred to a UW System school this fall will attend classes for free, with the stipulation that if students decide to remain in the UW System for more than one semester, they must then pay for the free credits.
Regent President David Walsh, who consulted with legislators regarding the matter, said the university was offering temporary help, not a permanent home for hurricane students.
\Our only purpose is to help out, not to end up with someone else's students,"" he said.
Conversations between Walsh, UW System President Kevin Reilly, the Governor's office and minority and majority leaders in the state Senate and Assembly wrapped up Friday, according to University Spokesperson Doug Bradley.
Making the students, who had been placed in a separate class designated ""Hurricane Katrina Victims,"" pay for the free credits if they decide to stay longer is a means to support southern schools trying to rebuild, according to Bradley.
""You don't want your colleagues in academia thinking you're trying to swipe their students,"" he said. ""If nobody goes back to Tulane, they won't have a university."" Bradley claimed he has seen accusations of ""student poaching"" on websites run by affected southern schools.
Bradley added that the UW System must be careful that their support of Katrina victims does not disadvantage current System students.
He said those students who wish to remain at UW campuses after the fall semester must not only pay for their credits, but also compete with current students and submit applications to the university.
University officials also decided to consult the state on the decision. Bradley said the Regents have the power to independently waive tuition, but they wanted to make sure the state was on board.
""This is in the Regents purview to do this,"" he said. ""They wanted to make sure that the legislative leadership and the Governor were comfortable with this position.""
State Rep. Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, the Assembly minority leader, was one of the legislators who Reilly and Walsh consulted.
Bradley said he estimated the total enrollment for the ""Hurricane Katrina Victims"" class is about 150 to 170 students System-wide and that the deadline for enrollment was Sept. 16.
