JSOnline has the news how Wisconsin democrats and Tech schools are looking for more free money.
Madison Area Technical College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Mixed reviews for tech schools’ request to boost student aid
By Arthur Thomas of the Journal Sentinel July 22, 2012While lawmakers in Madison acknowledge the need to invest in Wisconsin’s technical colleges, it remains to be seen if they are willing to nearly double the amount of money available for state-financed student financial aid grants in the next state budget.
Last week the technical college system board requested an additional $34.1 million for Wisconsin Higher Education Grants. The request would be in addition to the nearly $37.6 million the system received in the current budget. Technical college spokeswoman Morna Foy said the money is necessary because of a growing need to help students find a way to pay for school. For the coming school year, the system was not able to give grants to 49,000 eligible students.
Foy said the foundation’s grant program is important, but added that because the program is targeted at jobs with certain employers, it will not be able to replace the higher education grant.
At the end of the article, you see this.
He said the technical college system must focus on the demand for certain jobs within local areas, rather than just getting more students through the door.
Read more at JSOnline. Story via Vicki McKenna Tweet.
WUPN Op-Ed: So there was no cuts in the current budget and it is still not enough. Where do they get 49,000 students that could not go to school if they didn’t get grant money? Milwaukee and Madison campuses lost 10,000 to 15,00 students each?
If the tech schools would focus on teaching students what they need to know for jobs, instead of propping up the dues for the unions, there would be progress. If you think a lot of the money is for the students, your kidding yourself.
More students = more teachers = more dues to the unions = more money to democrat campaign coffers.
A Side note, Dave Hanson needs to find a different job in November.
July 24, 2012 at 1:03 pm
For the coming school year, the system was not able to give grants to 49,000 eligible students.
Paul, you missed the intentional misdirection on the part of spokeswoman Morna Foy: she doesn’t actually say 49,000 students were prevented from attending, just that they didn’t get any free tax money. IOW, they may have been eligible but didn’t really _need_ a grant.
In the 2009/10 year the Tech system had 382,006 students, down 11.5% from just under 439,934 a decade earlier. (Source: Wisconsin Technical College System, Fact Book 2011)
It would seem that the Tech system is merely trying to prop up the exiting bloated infrastructure more than anything else.
July 24, 2012 at 1:13 pm
MJM, thank you for the correction. You are correct that the schools are trying to prop up numbers.
Great follow up by you.
Take care and have a GREAT week.