Innovative Ideas for Need-Based Aid in Wisconsin

The fall 2009 Wisconsin Idea Forum, hosted by the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE) on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, will bring together policymakers, practitioners, students, scholars, and the public to discuss the current state of student financial aid in Wisconsin and the implications of the state's changing student and workforce demographics.

The forum's objective is to include a wide array of participants in an effort to broaden the understanding of available financial aid, foster discussion about the future of need-based aid in Wisconsin, and craft policy recommendations aimed at increasing postsecondary access and success throughout the state.

WISCAPE will produce a summary document based on forum discussions and distribute the publication widely to spur an on-going, state-wide discussion about the needs of the Wisconsin's postsecondary students — traditional, returning adult, and otherwise.

Registration Details

The day's events are free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required.

Registration for in-person participation is full; registration for on-line participation is still open.

Those who are unable to attend in person will be able to participate online by listening to a live audio broadcast, submitting comments and questions electronically, and participating in a real-time chat in the afternoon.. Online participants are also asked to register in advance. Simply choose the second option for registration -- "OnLine Forum Participation."

A block of rooms has been reserved for Nov. 16 to Nov. 18 at the Doubletree Hotel in Madison. The rooms are available at a conference rate of $119 per night. However, travelers may receive the Wisconsin state rate by presenting state employee identification. These rooms and pricing are only guaranteed until Oct. 26.

The Wisconsin Idea Forum is a biannual event sponsored by the University of Wisconsin System and hosted by system campuses. This is the second in the program series, which brings University of Wisconsin resources to bear on the state's most vexing social, environmental, and economic challenges.