FFWS FAQ

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars (FFWS) provides need-based grants to randomly selected, recent graduates of Wisconsin public high schools who are starting their first year of attendance at a UW four-year institution to earn an undergraduate baccalaureate degree. Grants are gifted aid; they do not have to be repaid. Grants are available in the fall, spring and summer semesters for all eligible FFWS scholars.

Along with receiving the FFWS grant, scholars are assigned an FFWS Peer Mentor freshman year, and have peer mentorship available to them throughout their undergraduate career.

At UW Madison, FFWS is housed within the Office of Experiential Learning, so FFWS students have access to our community space & professional development opportunities throughout the year.

Visit Fund for Wisconsin Scholars for more information.

There is no application process to receive an FFWS grant; eligibility is determined using data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once a list of eligible students is provided to the Universities of Wisconsin system offices, recipients are randomly selected to receive the grant.

To be initially eligible, one must:

• be a resident of Wisconsin for resident tuition purposes
• have been a full-time, resident student in a Wisconsin public school for the last four semesters prior to graduation
• have received a Wisconsin public high school diploma or HSED within the past three years
• be 21 years of age or younger on the 1st of September of the year of initial eligibility
• either:
  • be in the first year of post secondary studies at a UW System four year comprehensive university based in Wisconsin or
  • be transferring directly to a UW University from any of the WTCS or UW Branch Campuses, which is the only post-secondary school attended, with at least 24 successful credits at that institution and accepted by the UW University
• be enrolled full time and in person (not an online degree program) in a baccalaureate residential degree program at a UW University
• be a PELL recipient at initial eligibility
• have remaining unmet financial need

FFWS offers up to $3000 per academic year at UW Madison.

For any questions related to your FFWS financial aid, please contact nicole.schumacher@wisc.edu.

As a first year FFWS scholar, you are expected to meet with your FFWS Peer Mentor 1x/semester.

Otherwise, students will continue to receive FFWS grants for up to 8-10 semesters* if:

• student’s enrollment in a residential degree program at either a UW four year university or a UW Branch campus/WTCS college is full time, continuous, and in person (a minimum of 6 credits must be taken in person each fall and spring semester)
• adequate academic progress is being made toward degree completion
• student’s school continues to follow the grant process
• FAFSA is completed each year
• student has remaining unmet financial need

*if, after enrollment in a UW University, a student later takes all courses at, or transfers to, a WTCS or a UW two-year branch campus, FFWS grant eligibility at such school is limited to six semesters.

Research has shown that peer mentorship is related to improved academic performance, retention rates, emotional and psychological wellbeing, and social integration–our program aims to impact our students in all of these ways through peer mentorship.

FFWS Peer Mentors are available to meet one-on-one, or by dropping in to our OEL office space. They are experts in resources on campus and can help you find the opportunities you’re looking for.

Schedule a meeting with your peer mentor here! 

Our peer mentors are open to connecting with you about pretty much anything related to your life & experience at UW-Madison. Some examples of topics you can discuss:

• Adjusting to life on campus
• Finding a job
• Issues with housing
• Affordable food options
• Connecting with clubs or student orgs
• Study abroad scholarships
• Tutoring options
• Professional development opportunities (how to get an internship, networking, etc.)
• Mental health and care through UHS
• Time management
• Help with resumes, CVs, scholarship applications

If you are a first year, you will automatically be assigned to a peer mentor and get an email from your peer mentor introducing themselves. We have 5 peer mentors this year: visit FFWS Peer Mentor Team to learn more about our peer mentor team!

If you are an upper-class student, fill out the google form here to request a peer mentor.

Our peer mentor program not only offers one-on-one support from your peer mentor but provides access to a community of over 800 scholars and easy collaboration with other students involved with the Office of Experiential Learning. We host monthly events that include social gatherings, networking opportunities, and fun activities! Being a part of FFWS grants you access to a community unique to UW Madison–let us be a resource for you on campus!