At the end of January 2013, while attending the Student Veterans of America National Conference, UW-Milwaukee student David Tucek learned many states had laws giving student veterans and service members eligibility for priority registration for classes. Having served six years in the military, Tucek realized how important this was for student veterans.
Under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, student veterans receive tuition assistance for a limited number of semesters. There are specific rules tied to how the funds are used, and specific time frames. He was concerned because so many classes in the UW system fill up quickly. Student veterans have eight school semesters allotted by the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and service members still in the reserves need additional flexibility. If student veterans and service members are unable to enroll in a required course prior to their benefits expiring, those education benefits are lost.
Tucek knew priority registration would help address these issues. Starting in February, Tucek began sending emails to Wisconsin state lawmakers, asking them to support a bill making student veterans and current service members eligible for priority registration for classes in the UW system and Wisconsin technical colleges system. After sending out over 200 emails, State Representative Diane Hesselbein (D-Middleton) responded to Tucek and drafted the bill. The bill received overwhelming bi-partisan support from state representatives and sent to Governor Scott Walker. Walker signed the bill into Wisconsin state law in November.
“This legislation means [service members and veterans] have access to a quality education which can help propel their future,” – Governor Scott Walker during a press release
The act will affect registration for students’ spring 2014 courses.
Tucek is Vice President of the UW-Milwaukee Student Veterans of America-Milwaukee Chapter. A senior this year, he was recently selected by UW-Milwaukee faculty and professional staff to receive the Outstanding Nontraditional Student Award. This award recognizes individual students demonstrating strong leadership skills on campus, as well as strong academic performance. He was also featured on the UW-Milwaukee “I Am UWM” website in November. F
or more information on student veterans’ priority registration, please contact UW-Milwaukee’s Military Education Benefits Office (MEBO) at (414) 229- 6627, or the Military and Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC) at (414) 229-7211.