SB 481

This bill requires the Higher Educational Aids Board to establish a career

advancement scholarship program for individuals who are at least 25 years old, do

not have a postsecondary credential, and are not enrolled, but intend to enroll, in an

eligible institution. The bill defines “eligible institution” as a technical college, a

University of Wisconsin System institution, an in-state tribal college, or a private

nonprofit institution of higher education that is headquartered in this state. To be

eligible for the program, an individual must have been a state resident for at least

one year before enrolling at an eligible institution. Also, an individual must complete

the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid and be considered an

independent student for purposes of federal financial aid. In addition, the individual

must have an expected family contribution (EFC) that does not exceed the maximum

specified by the U.S. Department of Education for eligibility under the federal Pell

Grant Program. For federal financial aid, including Pell grants, an individual's EFC

is calculated under formulas specified under federal law for determining how much

an individual and his or her family is expected to contribute to educational costs.

The amount of a scholarship awarded under the program to an individual for

an academic year must equal the lesser of the following: 1) 50 percent of the total

tuition and fees that an eligible institution charges the individual for the academic

year; or 2) the individual's unmet need for the academic year. Unmet need is

determined by subtracting the total amount of nonloan financial aid provided to an

individual, including grants and other scholarships, from the total amount of tuition

and fees charged to the individual, except for room and board fees. An individual who

is awarded a scholarship may renew the scholarship in a subsequent academic year

if he or she is enrolled in a program leading to a postsecondary credential and has

made satisfactory academic progress in that program. In addition, he or she must

maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and participate in an

eligible institution's academic and career advising program as certified by HEAB.

The bill requires HEAB to begin making the scholarships in fiscal year 2020-21

and appropriates $1,250,000 annually for the scholarships. The bill also requires

HEAB to contract with 60 Forward for a marketing campaign to encourage adults

without postsecondary credentials to earn postsecondary credentials. 60 Forward

is a collaboration among the Technical College System, the UW System, and the

Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to increase the

number of adults in Wisconsin with a postsecondary credential. The marketing

campaign must include other information, including information on the scholarship

program required under the bill. HEAB must submit a plan for the marketing

campaign to the Joint Committee on Finance for passive review no later than

September 15, 2020.