Gov. Doyle signs Wisconsin Covenant Partnership Agreement

[from the Office of the Governor]

Governor Jim Doyle joined today with leaders of the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the state Department of Public Instruction, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to sign an agreement to implement the Wisconsin Covenant.

"Together, we are making a commitment to every eighth grader in Wisconsin," Governor Doyle said. "The Wisconsin Covenant provides hope and vision to all eighth-graders that if they work hard and do their part in high school, we'll do our part and guarantee them a spot in higher education and a financial package to make it affordable."

To help make the Wisconsin Covenant a reality for Wisconsin students and their families, the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and the Department of Public Instruction will work together to ensure:

1. There is a place for each Covenant Scholar in higher education. The respective systems will work to prioritize the entrance of the Covenant Scholars into their systems and identify a place for each Scholar, if possible, in the higher education system of their choice;


2. Covenant Scholars can access available financial resources including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, loans, and work that will put higher education within reach for each Covenant Scholar; and


3. Support for the Covenant Scholars in middle and high school to help them achieve their goals through the continuation, expansion, or establishment of pre-college programming, mentoring, tutoring, and other local supports.

Students who choose to participate in the Wisconsin Covenant will sign a pledge in 8th grade affirming that they will earn a high school diploma, participate in their community, take a high school curriculum that prepares them for higher education, maintain a B average in high school, and apply in a timely manner for state and federal financial aid.

In return for signing the Covenant pledge, each one of the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars will have a spot in either the University of Wisconsin system, the Wisconsin Technical Colleges, or at one of the state's 20 private, nonprofit and independent colleges.

"The Wisconsin Covenant is about the state stepping up to its own future," said University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly. "By having more of our kids academically and financially able to pursue a college education, the Covenant will help ensure their success -- and Wisconsin's -- in the knowledge economy."

"The Governor's proposal allows children in middle school to imagine that their dreams can be fulfilled and encourages high school students to do well and make the right choices, yet reassures their families that college will be affordable," said Elizabeth Burmaster, Superintendent of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Every eighth grade student, regardless of their income, can become a Wisconsin Covent Scholar. This initiative builds on the progress the Governor has made in the last four years to make college more affordable for Wisconsin's working families.

Governor Doyle has worked to increase access to higher education by doubling funding for financial aid over four years, signing legislation to increase the maximum Wisconsin Higher Education Grant for UW System schools from $2,500 to $3,000, and increasing the college tuition tax deduction in his 2005-2007 budget for students attending any Wisconsin college or university, public or private.

"The Covenant is an investment in Wisconsin families that will return better jobs, higher salaries and a brighter future for all of us," said Dan Clancy, Wisconsin Technical College System President.

"We are proud to be part of the Wisconsin Covenant," said Dr. Rolf Wegenke, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President. "In the knowledge economy, a college education is more important than ever before. In the last decade, we have increased our enrollment of low-income students by more than a thousand students. We are volunteering to do our part for Wisconsin's future."

The Wisconsin Covenant program will be open to every 8th grade student across the state. As students enter college, those families in most need of financial aid will receive grants to pay the costs of education, and other students will receive a mix of loans, grants, and work study opportunities through the Wisconsin Covenant Program. The program will be available to 8th graders in spring 2007.