On Dec. 18, 2023, the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced that starting in the fall of 2024, they will be offering free tuition to indigenous students registered to one of the federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin. This sets a precedent that other UW-System schools may or may not follow in the near future.
Dillion Krisik, president of the Native Nations Student Organization at the UWS, is a member of the Red Cliff tribe in Wisconsin.
“Native Nations Student Org, also called NNSO, is a student-led organization that helps promote indigenous cultures on campus.” said Krisik. With UW-Madison initiating free tuition, the opportunities for indigenous communities could be significantly increased.
“Out of all groups in the United States, taking the example of high school students, as many as 25% of Native American students don’t even graduate high school,” said Krisik, “So to see Native American people pursuing higher ed degrees, associates, bachelors, masters, PhDs, is a really big thing because there are so many barriers working against them.”
UW-Madison is not only offering free tuition, but housing and other fees are included in that as well.
“Doing something like free tuition and free housing to help bring those communities in to right past wrongs will really help,” said Krisik. As of now, there is no news of future plans of other UW-System schools following in the same footsteps as Madison.
“Superior is surrounded by Native American communities, so I think that would be something to consider. I think making free tuition, free housing, all that stuff for Native Americans is a great step that needs to be taken. What I’d love to see at the end of the day schooling for higher ed should be free for everybody. It just benefits the entire U.S. all around, getting more people educated,” said Krisik. “I would leave it on the optimistic note to say that I never thought I would see a UW school or much less any school in Wisconsin make a move like that. I think it’s definitely a step towards the right direction. And I like to see big moves like that.”
UW-Madison has made progress in honoring the indigenous peoples of Wisconsin, and it is possible that this will influence other universities to do the same or enact similar programs.
