Universities and Technical Colleges

AB 582 creates a Council on Dual Enrollment to oversee credit transfer policies, with members representing universities, technical colleges, school districts, tribal colleges, and state education leaders. It requires public colleges to make 72 core general education credits transferable between institutions by September 1, 2026, and private colleges to make 36 such credits transferable starting in 2027-28. The bill mandates agreements ensuring high school students’ dual enrollment credits for core courses (e.g., math, English) satisfy college requirements at participating institutions. This directly affects high school students in dual enrollment programs, public and private colleges, and tribal colleges across Wisconsin.

AB 750 amends state rules for admitting students to technical college programs. It establishes new admission priority rules for in-state residents versus non-residents (Section 38.22(5)(a)) and creates two new options for community college districts (Section 38.22(5)(b)). Districts may now reserve program spaces for students facing hardship or participating in school-to-work programs, or for protective services training like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. These changes give colleges flexibility to address specific student needs and workforce preparation goals within existing admission frameworks.

AB 757 amends Wisconsin statutes to change how the University of Wisconsin System appoints certain leadership roles and clarifies faculty governance rights. It prohibits requiring faculty tenure, specific academic degrees, or faculty status for appointments like chancellor, dean, or vice chancellor (Sections 2-3). The bill redefines "faculty" to include instructional academic staff with 50%+ teaching/research duties for governance purposes (Section 5), and ensures non-tenured faculty can serve on committees without restrictions (Section 5c). It also establishes new rules for "limited appointments" (e.g., administrative roles) requiring board approval and annual reporting (Sections 7-9). These changes directly affect UW System leadership, faculty, and academic staff in hiring and governance processes.

AB 166 requires Wisconsin colleges and universities to collect and report specific data about student outcomes and costs starting in 2027. Institutions must report graduates' average salaries (6 months and 5 years post-graduation by major), average debt, graduation rates, cost of attendance, and popular degree programs. The state board will also create and publish a list of the 50 most in-demand jobs in Wisconsin with required education levels and average salaries. This data will be provided to high schools for students in grades 10-12 as part of required academic and career planning services. The bill directly affects higher education institutions and students seeking career guidance.

AB 1005 requires University of Wisconsin System institutions to base undergraduate admission decisions "predominantly" on standardized test scores like the ACT or SAT, rather than other factors. It applies to all applicants except those admitted through the guaranteed admission program. The bill amends statutes to mandate that objective test performance become the primary factor in admission decisions, effective for the 2027-28 academic year. This change directly affects prospective undergraduate students applying to UW System campuses.