UPDATED Thursday, December 6, 2012 --- 5:31 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A panel of University of Wisconsin System regents has approved a compromise plan for admitting a higher percentage of out-of-state students.

The current cap on non-resident undergrad enrollment is 25 percent. UW-Madison wants to raise the cap to a three-year average of 30 percent.

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report says the committee decided Thursday to raise the cap to 27.5 percent. The full Board of Regents will vote on the plan Friday.

The cap applies to all 26 UW schools, but UW-Madison is the only campus to reach and slightly exceed the current cap.

UW officials say the cap was instituted decades ago, not to manage enrollment but to limit the number of protesters. Officials at the time assumed the trouble-makers were coming from outside Wisconsin.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press

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Posted: Thursday, December 6, 2012 -- 7:20 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The regents of the University of Wisconsin System will be considering a proposal to admit a higher percentage of out-of-state students.

The plan would raise the cap on non-resident undergraduate enrollment from 25 percent to 30 percent. A Board of Regents committee is scheduled to take up the issue Thursday, and the full board is set to vote on it Friday.

One Republican lawmaker isn't happy about the plan. State Rep. Steve Nass asked the regents Wednesday to delay action on changing the cap. He says he's concerned the move would give Wisconsin residents a smaller chance of gaining admission to UW-Madison. He also says UW officials failed to consult with the Legislature in sufficient detail.

UW System officials say the change would increase diversity and improve flexibility.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press