MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin System regents on Thursday delayed action on a new admissions policy that would give greater weight to nonacademic factors including race and income.

Members of the regents' education committee said they need more time to gather input and explain the plan to the public and lawmakers. They acknowledged a lot of people are confused.

A spokesman for the regents said the vote was delayed to resolve concerns about potential abuses of the proposal like racial profiling.

The regents said the measure will simplify the admissions process for prospective students.

"It is a tough thing to go through as a 17- or 18-year-old, or as the parent of a 17- or 18-year-old. So what we want is a governing set of policies that put our campuses in the best position to explain this clearly to perspective students and their families," said David Giroux, communications director for the UW System.

State Rep. Stephen Nass, of Whitewater, sent the regents a letter asking for the delay. He threatened to propose a constitutional amendment banning race-based admissions, as was approved in November in Michigan, if his concerns aren't addressed.

Nass and his fellow Republicans control the state Assembly, but Democrats this fall won a majority in the state Senate, which would also have to approve such a proposal in consecutive legislative sessions for it to go before voters in a referendum.

UW System officials insist the admissions changes would be minor and that academic achievement would remain the most important factor.

The Board of Regents is expected to revisit the proposal in February, WISC-TV reported.