Announcement:

Free Student Loan Debt Hotline for Wisconsin Borrowers:
833-589-0750

This new Wisconsin Student Loan Help Hotline was created in partnership with the Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt and Ascendium Education Solutions.  The Wisconsin Student Loan Help Hotline dedicated toll free number 833-589-0750 has been created to help student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Task Force shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions Kathy Blumenfeld and include the following members, who will be supported by staff:

• The Governor or a designee
  • Derek Campbell, Policy Director
• The Executive Secretary of the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) or designee
  • Connie Hutchison, Executive Secretary
• The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) or a designee
  • Lara Sutherlin, Administrator, Trade and Consumer Protection
• The State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) or a designee
  • Keona Jones, Assistant State Superintendent
• The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) or a designee
  • Larry Graves, Education Consultant
• The President of the University of Wisconsin System or a designee
  • Jeff Buhrandt, Senior Director, State Relations
• A representative the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board
  • Brandon Trujillo, Policy Advisor
• The President Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges & Universities (WAICU) or a designee
  • Rebecca Larson, Senior Vice President for Advocacy
• Wisconsin Assembly, One Member from both the Majority and Minority
  • Majority: State Rep. Joan Ballweg
  • Minority: State Rep. Dianne Hesselbein
• Wisconsin Senate, One Member from both the Majority and Minority
  • Majority: TBD
  • Minority: State Senator Jeff Smith
• A representative from one of Wisconsin’s eleven federally recognized tribes
  • Shannon Holsey, President of Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians
• Other individuals appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions to serve at the pleasure of the Governor, who may include individuals representing the business and academic community, the financial services industry, student loan borrowers, and parents of student loan borrowers.
  • Masood Akhtar, Founder & President, We Are Many United Against Hate
  • Keyimani Alford, President, Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA), Dean, Access and Student Success, Madison Area Technical College
  • Karen Bauer, Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
  • Shannon Conlin, Assistant Attorney General, Wisconsin Department of Justice
  • Jodi Chung, Legal Assistant, Moen Sheehan Meyer
  • Lucy Fenzl, Interim Dean of Letters and Science at College of Menominee Nation
  • Renee Gasch, Media Consultant
  • Austin Hammond, Student, UW-Oshkosh
  • Maricha Harris, Lead Community Relations Analyst, Goodwill of SE Wisconsin
  • Rene Howard-Paez, Diversity Director, Marquette University High School
  • Silbi Isein, Student, UW-Milwaukee
  • Derek Kindle, UW-Madison Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
  • Paul Kundert, President & CEO, UW Credit Union
  • Kevin McShane, Vice President of Financial Aid & Compliance, Herzing University
  • Jamie Miller, Bankruptcy Attorney
  • Michael Moderski, President and COO, McFarland State Bank
  • Michael Rosen, Retired Economics Professor and Former Union President
  • Alexzandra Shade, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, CUNA Mutual Group
  • Casey Wachniak, School Administration Consultant with the Educational Approval Program (EAP), Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) 

If you have questions for the Task Force please contact us at: StudentDebtTaskForce@dfi.wisconsin.gov

• La Crosse (June 13, 2019)
• Milwaukee (July 23, 2019)
• Wausau (August 6, 2019)
• Green Bay (August 21, 2019)

Read the Final Report

On August 18, 2020, the Governor’s Task Force on Student Debt announced the release of its final report on student debt prepared at the request of Governor Tony Evers. The report outlines eight recommendations for how Wisconsin can provide relief, education, and protection to its student debtholders now and in the future.

After months of research, listening sessions, consultation with external experts and colleagues in other states, the Governor’s Task Force on Student Debt finalized its 120-page report during a WebEx meeting on August 12, 2020. The electronic report includes 37 proposed solutions and eight recommendations approved by the task force during previous meetings. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the task force convened and completed its work virtually. The task force was chaired by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld.

The task force submitted the following eight recommendations to Gov. Evers for consideration: 1) create a Borrower Bill of Rights and Student Loan Ombudsman; 2) enhance proprietary school regulations and reinstate the Educational Approval Board; 3) improve financial literacy education; 4) increase need-based, targeted aid for postsecondary education and create a statewide promise program; 5) strengthen student loan counseling; 6) consider targeted loan forgiveness programs; 7) promote refinancing opportunities with other states; and 8) create a state student debt relief tax credit. These recommendations are the result of expansive dialogue between experts from government, industry, academia, and student loan borrowers.

The Governor’s Task Force on Student Debt was created by Executive Order #67 to address the growing student debt crisis in Wisconsin. The 32-member task force included borrowers, industry leaders, legislators, financial aid experts, and lenders to share a broad spectrum of ideas and experiences to inform the work of the task force. To learn more, read the final report.

Glossary of Terms