Senate Bill 652 aims to amend existing laws regarding race-based higher education programs and requirements by shifting the focus from minority students to disadvantaged students. The bill defines "disadvantaged" as students who have faced unfavorable economic, familial, geographic, physical, or other personal hardships, explicitly excluding considerations of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Key provisions include the modification of loan and grant programs administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) and the University of Wisconsin System, which will now serve disadvantaged students instead of minority students.

The bill also repeals certain requirements for institutions like the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University School of Dentistry to maintain a specific percentage of minority student enrollment. Additionally, it removes references to minority status in various programs, including Lawton grants and retention plans for technical colleges, thereby broadening eligibility criteria to encompass all disadvantaged students. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a more inclusive framework for higher education support that prioritizes economic hardship over racial or ethnic identity.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 36.25(14), 36.25, 36.25(14m)(title), 36.25(14m)(a), 36.25(14m)(b), 36.25(14m)(c)2