GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Scott Walker is touting ways the state is helping to make college more affordable.
During a stop Tuesday at Fox Valley Technical College, Walker highlighted investments made at the state level in order to keep students enrolled and eventually avoid going into debt.
“With two sons, one a recent graduate and one a college senior, Tonette and I know the importance of planning ahead for the cost of higher education,” Walker said. “By providing greater access to financial planning resources, students and their families will be armed with the information to better plan for the future.”
Walker spoke about several steps he’s taken, including:
- Implementing a tuition freeze at all University of Wisconsin System schools.
- Creating a scholarship program for high school students who lead their classes in technical education courses.
- Increase needs-based grants for technical college students by $2 million in the 2013-14 school year and $1 million for independent colleges
- Restore the Wisconsin GI Bill for veterans and expand it to those with 5 years of residency
The governor also joined the Department of Financial Institutions in announcing the creation of a Student Loan Debt Specialist position with the DFI’s Office of Financial Literacy. This position serves as an outreach coordinator to inform current and future student loan borrowers about potential debt management, investment and educational options.
