UW System students earn tuition credit by assisting with Wisconsin vaccine rollout

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee nursing student Millicent Reyes said when she learned COVID-19 vaccines would become available, she wanted to help.

“Over winter break I applied to work as a volunteer with the mobile vaccination unit,” Reyes said.

Reyes later learned students could receive $500 in tuition credit through the program, while gaining valuable experience.

“I appreciate what UWM did in increasing these incentives for these nursing students who have these skills and have these capabilities to really get out there,” Reyes said.

UWM College of Nursing Dean Kim Litwack said the program was spearheaded by UW System president and former Wisconsin governor, Tommy Thompson.

“He came to us as deans and said we need to step up and show that the UW System is really here for the state of Wisconsin," Litwack said.

Milwaukee Public Health Department Nurse Coordinator Nancy Burns has supervised some of those students administering vaccines at the Wisconsin Center.  Burns said the students have done a great job, and the city needs the help.

“We have been short-staffed on occasions, and so without nursing students, we would not be able to see as many people as we currently are.”

There are hundreds of students involved in the program from the UW System all across the state.

About 25 of those students are with UWM.