The Monthly Memo

Note: All revisions, updates and additions for the 2002-03 academic year have been made to the electronic Policy and Procedure Manual and are now available to you.

Points of Interest:

1. The next Board meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 28th from 9AM to approximately 12NOON. The meeting will be held in the Governor’s Conference Room at the State Capitol. The agenda includes:

   AGENDA

   1. Call to Order.

   2. Approval of October 18, 2002 and November 20, 2002 Board Meeting Minutes.

   3. Report of the Executive Secretary.

   4. Consideration of Board Reports:

      #03-12	2001-02 Minnesota-Wisconsin Reciprocity Program Data	INFORMATION
      #03-13	WHEAL Program Status Report for Fiscal Year 2002	INFORMATION
      #03-14	Wisconsin State Student Financial Aid Data for 2001-02	INFORMATION
      #03-15	Status of 2002-03 Applicants and Programs	INFORMATION
      #03-16	2003-05 Biennial Budget Talking Points	INFORMATION
      #03-17	2003-04 WHEG and WTG Program Formulas	DISCUSSION/ACTION
      #03-18	Talent Incentive Program Recommended Rule Change related to Military Leave and UW WHEG Statutory Language Change related to Maximum Award	DISCUSSION/ACTION

   5. Other Issues:
      1. Federal Programs Status Report.

   6. New Business.

   7. Next Meeting Date: April 25, 2003.

   8. Adjournment.
   [Please follow this link to the February 28, 2003 Board Report.]

2. The 2003 Report on Financial Aid Programs for Higher Education in the State of Wisconsin has been completed. It will be sent to you under separate cover. This report provides information on student college financial assistance available to Wisconsin residents. It was prepared in order to improve program monitoring and management through the use of performance outcome data. It also informs citizens and other interested parties about the performance of student financial aid programs in Wisconsin. Most of the individual reports measure performance over time generally reflecting the period covering 1996 to the most recent year data is available. The various reports include information about enrollment, applicants, eligibility, recipients, funding availability, financial need, debt, earnings as they relate to level of education, retention, and information comparing Wisconsin to neighboring States.

   Conclusions based on data include:

   • If student financial aid funding increases, the enrollment of college students increases.
   • Total Wisconsin student financial aid program funding and therefore number of recipients has increased over the past five years.
   • Increases in student financial aid are not keeping pace with the increases in student financial need.
   • Household income increases are not keeping pace with increases in cost of education.
   • Average student debt continues to increase.
   • Level of earnings is tied to level of education.
   • The percentage of Wisconsin’s population with a higher education degree and Wisconsin’s per capita income is lower than most of its neighboring states.
   • A substantial proportion of Wisconsin’s residents seeking a postsecondary degree tend to enroll at Wisconsin colleges and universities and tend to stay in Wisconsin upon graduation.
   • Even though Wisconsin ranks well nationally in terms of providing undergraduate need based assistance, it lags behind neighboring states in total funding and average awards to college students.

   This document is being shared with legislators and others involved with the 2003-05 Biennial Budget Process. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about this report. Feel free to use this information when applicable.

   [Download a copy of this report in Adobe PDF format (162 KB).]

3. Just a reminder to schools that have not responded to the TIP Reassignment request, please reply to John Whitt as soon as possible so that Initial TIP funds may be redistributed to where they are most needed.

4. Due to very tight program spending, please return refunds as soon as possible, particularly for the WTG and WHEG Programs.

5. Due to the establishment of the new administration Jim Buske is no longer with HEAB. He was an important part of our team and is truly missed. I have assumed his responsibilities. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Points Related to Processing:

2002-03

1. 2002-03 notification lists and other associated reports are scheduled to run February 4^th, 11^th, 18^th, and 25^th.

2. 2002-03 award commit and spent for WHEG and WTG are as follows:

   TIP Award Commit	=	128.19%	(last year at this time it was 128.42%)
   TIP Spent	=	73.62%	(last year at this time it was 77.95%)
   UW WHEG Award Commit	=	133.78%	(last year at this time it was 133.45%)
   UW WHEG Spent	=	86.86%	(last year at this time it was 83.27%)
   WTC WHEG Award Commit	=	169.82%	(last year at this time it was 171.04%)
   WTC WHEG Spent	=	96.82%	(last year at this time it was 97.20%)
   WTG Award Commit	=	118.05%	(last year at this time it was 117.95%)
   WTG Spent	=	80.99%	(last year at this time it was 79.21%)

   NOTE:  The “W” code is currently being applied to any new WTC-WHEG applicants.

3. 2002-03 vouchering occurs both Tuesday and Friday nights. Requests will be processed if they are received by 12NOON on either Tuesday or Friday.

4. TIP nomination forms are to be sent to John Whitt.

5. File maintenance is being accepted for the following items only:
   Professional Judgement changes
   Special Tuition
   Selective Service changes
   Special Circumstances
   Deletes
   If you have a situation that you believe is a special circumstance, please contact the program coordinator. ALL other changes must by made by submitting information to the federal processor.

Other Points:

1. The next training sessions will be held:
   March 20, 2003

   The program begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends no later than 3:00 p.m. It is held at the HEAB offices at 131 W. Wilson St, Suite 902, Madison, WI. We have room for up to 6 people at each session.

   If you want to register for a session or need more information, please call Nancy Wilkison at (608) 267-2206 or send email to nancy.wilkison@heab.state.wi.us.

Jane Hojan-Clark, Administrative Manager
Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board