Senate Bill 652 aims to amend existing laws regarding higher education programs in Wisconsin by shifting the focus from minority students to disadvantaged students. The bill defines "disadvantaged" as students who have faced various hardships, such as economic or familial difficulties, and explicitly prohibits the consideration of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion in defining disadvantaged status. 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 related to minority student enrollment at institutions like the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University School of Dentistry, as well as provisions that mandated the Board of Regents to fund programs specifically for minority students. Additionally, it eliminates the priority for courses serving minority students in the Technical College System while maintaining support for disadvantaged students. Overall, the legislation seeks to broaden access to educational resources for students facing hardships, regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds.

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