INTERIM GUIDANCE
UW System Administrative Policy 100-Interim 15

Interim Guidance: Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP)/Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (AOF) Implementation Guidance

This document is intended solely as guidance and does not contain any mandatory requirements except where requirements found in statute or administrative rule are referenced. This guidance does not establish or affect legal rights or obligations and is not finally determinative of any of the issues addressed. This guidance does not create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the State of Wisconsin or the Board of Regents. Any decisions made by the Board of Regents in any matter addressed by this guidance will be made by applying the governing statutes and administrative rules to the relevant facts. 

 
Original Issuance Date:  July 6, 2026
Expiration Date: July 1, 2027 or until permanent guidance issued, whichever is first.  

1. Interim Guidance Purpose 

This interim guidance is intended to assist Universities of Wisconsin (UW) institutions in implementing the Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP)/Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (AOF) grant programs for graduate students, and to clarify that as of June 18, 2026, the consideration of “minority” status under Wis. Stat. § 36.25(14) cannot be used to determine eligibility. 

The purpose of this interim guidance action is to replace the “UW SYSTEM GUIDELINES – ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (AOP)” guidance document and to direct those UW System institutions on the appropriate future reallocation of funds following the June 18, 2026 program discontinuance. 

2. Related Policies or Guidance 

This interim guidance replaces the “UW SYSTEM GUIDELINES – ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (AOP)” last formally issued by UW System Administration for the 2015-2016 academic year. 

3. Scope 

This interim guidance applies to eligible graduate students starting with the 2026-27 academic year. 

4. Definitions 

Disadvantaged Graduate Student: A graduate student enrolled in the UW System that meet any of the criteria including but not limited to one or more of the following: 

  1. Demonstrates financial need through one or more of the following: student or immediate family participation in programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF/cash assistance), Federal Housing Assistance, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Medicaid.  
  2. Are first generation college students (i.e., parent(s)/guardian(s) did not receive a baccalaureate degree). 
  3. Have experienced educational, economic, and/or societal disadvantages or adversity that have impacted their educational opportunities. These may include, but are not limited to, growing up in a rural or urban community; having experienced the foster care system; having an incarcerated parent; or having responsibilities for providing financial support or primary care for other household or family members. 

5. Interim Guidance Statement 

  1. Awards must be based on good standing and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution. To ensure the opportunity for completion of a degree, UW System institutions are expected to sustain comparable levels of financial assistance to AOP/AOF recipients who maintain good academic standing and who make satisfactory academic progress. This financial assistance may take the form of AOP/AOF funds and/or institutional and graduate assistantships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, etc. Research has shown that campus employment at the graduate level increases retention and prepares students for faculty positions. Therefore, AOP/AOF funds can be combined with Project Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Graduate Assistant, and Research Assistant positions.  
  2. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for these Awards.  
  3. Awards should be limited to Disadvantaged Graduate Students. Preference for AOP/AOF awards should be given to qualified (based on UW System Administration and institutional guidelines) resident Disadvantaged Graduate Students before making awards to eligible non-resident Disadvantaged Graduate Students. Institutions should establish reasonable deadlines after which preference is no longer required for residents, and institutions may award remaining funds to other eligible graduate students. Institutions should publish the deadlines in their AOP/AOF Guidelines. This provision does not apply to current non-resident AOP/AOF recipients.  
  4. UW Institution guidelines for awarding AOP/AOF funds for the 2026 – 27 academic year, including the institutional award criteria, guidelines and application materials directing the granting of the coming year’s awards, and deadlines must be submitted for review to the UW System Office of General Counsel or relevant University Office of Legal Affairs prior to implementation.  

6. Supplemental Documents 

None listed.