Regents give final approval to reciprocity deal

University of Minnesota students
Students on the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus.
MPR file photo

The new agreement assures Wisconsin students will no longer pay less than their Minnesota counterparts at the U of M.

Higher education officials hammered out the new deal after the U threatened to pull out of the long-standing agreement that allows students to pay their home state tuition when they crossed the borders.

U of M officials claimed it wasn't fair for Minnesota students, and the university was losing tuition revenue on Wisconsin students who paid what amounted to a discounted rate.

Under the agreement, Wisconsin students will continue to pay their home tuition, but a portion of funds Wisconsin now pays to Minnesota's general fund will go directly to the U to offset the cost difference.

At their meeting, the Regents also approved plan to seek $239 million for construction and repair projects in the upcoming legislative bonding session.