UW–Madison’s Taylor Odle, an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies, recently spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Today” about a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that found a state college grant program for minority students unconstitutional.

Established in 1985, the Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant Program provided up to $2,500 in financial assistance to students who are Black, American Indian, Hispanic, or from some parts of Southeast Asia. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that the program violates the Constitution’s 14th Amendment by restricting eligibility based on race or ethnicity.

Odle said the decision comes at a challenging time for college affordability in Wisconsin. He noted that while the state’s public colleges have a lower-than-average “sticker price” for tuition, Wisconsin spends significantly less per-student on financial aid than many other states. As a result, the affordability gap for students attending public bachelor’s degree-granting institutions is more than twice the national average.

During the interview, Odle explained that the program offered retention grants designed to help students stay enrolled and graduate from college. He added that disparities in retention rates exist across many dimensions beyond race and expressed hope that the state will continue investing in financial aid that helps students complete their degrees.

“Retention grants work, and financial aid is the most surefire way of increasing access and completion. The research is crystal clear on that point,” Odle said. “I hope this propels two things. One, I hope the grant program is repurposed to support other students who are seeking to complete college. But more importantly, I hope this kind of fringe case shines a light and reinvigorates our conversation around affordability in Wisconsin.”

Read the WPR article or listen to the full “Wisconsin Today” interview to learn more.