Wis. Stat. § 36.27 — WI Code / Chapter 36 / Section 36.27
Tuition.
Status: in_force

(1) Board of regents to establish.

(a) Subject to par. (b) , the board may establish for different classes of students differing tuition and fees incidental to enrollment in educational programs or use of facilities in the system. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the board may charge any student who is not exempted by this section a nonresident tuition. The board may establish special rates of tuition and fees for the extension and summer sessions and such other studies or courses of instruction as the board deems advisable.

(b) The board shall permit a person who is 60 years of age or older to audit a course without paying an auditor’s fee if the person is a resident of this state, as determined under sub. (2) (e) , space is available in the course and the instructor approves.

(2) Nonresident tuition exceptions.

(a) Students qualifying under any of the following categories, while they continue to be residents of this state, are entitled to exemption from nonresident tuition but not from incidental or other fees:

1. Any adult student who has been a bona fide resident of the state for 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which such student registers at an institution.

2. Any minor student, if one or both of the student’s parents have been bona fide residents of this state for at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the student registers at an institution.

3. Any adult student who is a dependent of his or her parents under 26 USC 152 (a), if one or both of the student’s parents have been bona fide residents of this state for at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the student registers at an institution.

4. Any minor student who has resided substantially in this state during the years of minority and at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which such student registers at an institution.

5. Any minor student under guardianship in this state whose legal guardian has been a bona fide resident of this state for at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which such student registers at an institution.

6. Any adult student who has been employed as a migrant worker for at least 2 months each year for 3 of the 5 years next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the student registers at an institution, or for at least 3 months each year for 2 of the 5 years next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the student registers at an institution, any adult student whose parent or legal guardian has been so employed while the student was a minor and any minor student whose parent or legal guardian has been so employed. In this subdivision, “migrant worker” has the meaning specified in s. 103.90 (5) .

(am) Any person who is a refugee, as defined under 8 USC 1101 (a) (42), who moved to this state immediately upon arrival in the United States and who has resided in this state continuously since then is entitled to the exemption under par. (a) if he or she demonstrates an intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin according to the criteria under par. (e) .

(b)

1. Nonresident members of the armed forces and persons engaged in alternative service who are stationed in this state on active duty and their spouses and children are entitled to the exemption under par. (a) during the period that such persons are stationed in this state.

2. Members of the armed forces who reside in this state and are stationed at a federal military installation located within 90 miles of the borders of this state, and their spouses and children, are entitled to the exemption under par. (a) .

3. Nonresident persons who served in active duty in the U.S. armed forces for at least 10 years, who were honorably discharged from such service within 4 years before applying at an institution, and who filed state income tax returns for at least 8 of the last 10 years of active duty in the U.S. armed forces, and their spouses and children are entitled to the exemption under par. (a) .

4. A person who is a resident of and living in this state at the time of registering at an institution and who is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) , is entitled to the exemption under par. (a) .

(br)

1. Subject to subd. 3. , a student who meets all of the following requirements is entitled to the exemption under par. (a) :

a. The student has resided in this state for 6 months immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session in which the student enrolls at an institution.

b. The student is a member of the Wisconsin national guard or a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces when he or she enrolls in an institution and has been a member for the 6-month period under subd. 1. a.

c. While enrolled in an institution, the student continues to be a member of the Wisconsin national guard or reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or is honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from the national guard or a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces.

2. If a student receiving the exemption under this paragraph withdraws from an institution during a semester or session because he or she is called into state active duty or into active service with the U.S. armed forces, the student is entitled to the exemption under this paragraph if he or she reenrolls in an institution during the semester in which he or she is discharged, demobilized, or deactivated from active duty or in the next succeeding semester.

3. The exemption under this paragraph is limited to 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer.

(c) Any student who is a graduate of a Wisconsin high school and whose parents are bona fide residents of this state for 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the student registers at an institution or whose last surviving parent was a bona fide resident of this state for the 12 months preceding death is entitled to the exemption under par. (a) .

(cm) Any person continuously employed full time in this state, who was relocated to this state by his or her current employer or who moved to this state for employment purposes and accepted his or her current employment before applying for admission to an institution and before moving, and the spouse and dependents of any such person, are entitled to the exemption under par. (a) if the student demonstrates an intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin according to the criteria under par. (e) . In this paragraph, “dependents” has the meaning given in 26 USC 152 (a).

(d) Any person who has not been a bona fide resident of the state for 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which such person registers at an institution, except as provided in this subsection, is not exempt from the payment of the nonresident tuition.

(e) In determining bona fide residence at the time of the beginning of any semester or session and for the preceding 12 months, all of the following apply:

1. The intent of the person to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin is determinative. In addition to representations by the student, intent may be demonstrated or disproved by factors including, but not limited to, timely filing of a Wisconsin income tax return of a type that only full-year Wisconsin residents may file, voter registration in Wisconsin, motor vehicle registration in Wisconsin, possession of a Wisconsin operator’s license, place of employment, self-support, involvement in community activities in Wisconsin, physical presence in Wisconsin for at least 12 months preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the student registers, and, if the student is not a U.S. citizen, possession of a visa that permits indefinite residence in the United States.

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1. and par. (a) , a student who enters and remains in this state principally to obtain an education is presumed to continue to reside outside this state and such presumption continues in effect until rebutted by clear and convincing evidence of bona fide residence.

3.

a. In this subdivision, “relocated service member” means an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces who has been relocated from Wisconsin and stationed on active duty in another state.

b. A relocated service member and the service member’s spouse and dependents are considered residents of this state for purposes of this subsection during the period in which the service member is relocated on active duty if they demonstrate, under the factors described in subd. 1. , that they are bona fide residents during this period.

c. Except as provided in subd. 3. d. , subd. 3. b. does not apply after the relocated service member’s period of relocation on active duty in another state has ended.

d. A relocated service member’s dependent who is considered a resident of this state under subd. 3. b. continues to be considered a resident of this state after the relocated service member’s period of relocation on active duty in another state has ended.

(2m) Appeals. Any body designated by the board to determine nonresident tuition exemptions under sub. (2) may require a student who has been granted such an exemption to submit information from which the body may determine the student’s eligibility for the exemption, the student’s eligibility for a different exemption or the student’s residency status.

(2r) Minnesota-University of Wisconsin System student reciprocity agreement.

(a) There is established, to be administered by the board, a Minnesota-University of Wisconsin System student reciprocity agreement, the purpose of which shall be to ensure that neither state shall profit at the expense of the other and that the determination of any amounts owed by either state under the agreement shall be based on an equitable formula that reflects the educational costs incurred by the 2 states, reflects any differentials in usage by residents of either state of the public institutions of higher education located in the other state, and reflects any differentials in the resident tuition charged at comparable public institutions of higher education of the 2 states. The board, representing this state, shall enter into an agreement meeting the requirements of this subsection with the designated body representing the state of Minnesota.

(b) The agreement under this subsection shall provide for the waiver of nonresident tuition for residents of either state who are enrolled in public institutions of higher education located in the other state. The agreement shall also establish a reciprocal fee structure for residents of either state who are enrolled in public institutions of higher education located in the other state. The reciprocal fee may not exceed the higher of the resident tuition that would be charged the student at the public institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled or the resident tuition that would be charged the student at comparable public institutions of higher education located in the student’s state of residence, as specified in the annual administrative memorandum under par. (c) . The agreement is subject to the approval of the joint committee on finance.

(c) Prior to each academic year, the board and the designated body representing the state of Minnesota shall prepare an administrative memorandum that establishes policies and procedures for implementation of the agreement for the upcoming academic year, including a description of how the reciprocal fee structure shall be determined for purposes of par. (b) , and the board shall submit the administrative memorandum to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the administrative memorandum within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the administrative memorandum may be implemented as proposed by the board. If, within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the administrative memorandum, the administrative memorandum may be implemented only upon approval of the committee.

(d) No resident of this state whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) may receive a waiver of nonresident tuition under this subsection unless the resident provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a) .

(e) At the end of each semester or academic term, the board and the designated body representing the state of Minnesota shall determine the number of students for whom nonresident tuition has been waived under the agreement. The board and the designated body representing the state of Minnesota shall certify to each other, in addition to the number of students so determined, the aggregate amount of its reimbursement obligation. The entity with the larger reimbursement obligation shall pay as provided in the agreement an amount determined by subtracting the reimbursement obligation of the entity with the smaller reimbursement obligation from the reimbursement obligation of the entity with the larger reimbursement obligation. The agreement shall provide a reasonable date for payment of any such sums due and owing, after which date interest may be charged on the amount owed. The methodology for determination of the appropriate interest rate shall be included in the agreement. All tuition and fees received by this state under this subsection and any net obligations received under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.285 (1) (gb) .

(f) In allocating funding for each institution under s. 36.09 (1) (h) , the board shall ensure that each institution is allocated the amounts received pursuant to par. (e) in proportion to the total amount each institution charged its students with Minnesota residence in tuition and fees under the agreement under this subsection.

(3) Tuition remissions. The board may remit nonresident tuition either in whole or in part at each institution, but not other fees:

(a) To nonresident students upon the basis of merit, to be shown by suitable tests, examinations, or scholastic records and continued high standards of scholastic attainment.

(b) To additional students who, in the judgment of the board, are deserving of relief from the assessment of nonresident tuition.

(f) In addition to the remissions of nonresident tuition under this subsection, the board may, as athletic scholarships, grant full remission of fees and nonresident tuition, up to the maximum number allowed by the appropriate athletic conference as recommended by the chancellor of each university.

(g) The board may remit nonresident tuition and fees, in whole or part, to resident and nonresident graduate students who are fellows or who are employed within the system as faculty, instructional academic staff, or assistants with an appointment equal to at least 33 percent of a full-time equivalent position.

(3m) Fee remissions for survivors.

(a) In this subsection:

1. “Correctional officer” has the meaning given in s. 102.475 (8) (a) .

1g. “Emergency medical services technician” means an individual under s. 256.01 (4p) or (5) .

1m. “Fire fighter” means any person employed by this state or any political subdivision of this state as a member or officer of a fire department whose duties include fire fighting or fire fighting training or a member of a volunteer fire department whose duties include fire fighting or fire fighting training.

2. “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c) and includes a person appointed as a conservation warden under s. 23.10 .

(b) The board shall grant full remission of fees to any resident undergraduate student who is enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program and who is any of the following:

1. The child of an ambulance driver, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services technician or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in this state or who qualified for a duty disability benefit, as defined in s. 40.65 (4) , under the Wisconsin Retirement System, the Employees’ Retirement System of the city of Milwaukee, or the Milwaukee County Employee’s Retirement System and died as a result of the qualifying disability. The student must be the child of an ambulance driver, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services technician or law enforcement officer who was so killed or who died as a result of the qualifying disability when the child was under the age of 21 or before the child was born.

2. The surviving spouse of an ambulance driver, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services technician or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in this state or who qualified for a duty disability benefit, as defined in s. 40.65 (4) , under the Wisconsin Retirement System, the Employees’ Retirement System of the city of Milwaukee, or the Milwaukee County Employee’s Retirement System and died as a result of the qualifying disability.

(c) The fee remission under par. (b) shall remain in effect until completion of a sufficient number of credits to be awarded a bachelor’s degree in the student’s major field of study, except that a student must be in good academic standing to receive the remission for the next semester and may not receive a remission for more than 5 consecutive years.