No ‘universal access’ created

On "universal access" to college courses, Gov. Scott Walker's promise during his 2014 campaign for a second term was:

"Expand course options so no child, regardless of where they live or their income, will be denied the same opportunity other students have to access college-level courses of their choosing."

Walker's 2015-'17 state budget included a proposal for the Universal Access to College Courses program. But it was not part of the final budget adopted by the Legislature.

Gubernatorial spokeswoman Amy Hasenberg cited to us a number of Walker higher education initiatives, including freezing tuition at University of Wisconsin System campuses and increasing grants for technical college students.

But a universal access plan has not been put into place. And the Legislature is not scheduled to return to session before Walker's second term ends in January 2019.

We rate this a Promise Broken.