Assembly Bill 669 proposes significant changes to higher education programs in Wisconsin by shifting the focus from race-based criteria to a broader definition of "disadvantaged" students. The bill defines disadvantaged students as those who have faced unfavorable economic, familial, geographic, physical, or personal hardships, explicitly excluding considerations of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. This change affects various programs administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) and the University of Wisconsin System, including the minority teacher loan program, minority undergraduate grants, and Lawton grants, which will now be available to disadvantaged students instead of specifically minority students.

Additionally, the bill repeals existing requirements for certain institutions, such as the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University School of Dentistry, to ensure a minimum percentage of minority student enrollment. It also modifies the Technical College System's plans and grant programs to focus on disadvantaged students rather than minority group members. Overall, the bill aims to create a more inclusive framework for supporting students in higher education by broadening eligibility criteria and removing race-based requirements.

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