Wartburg College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Our awarding policy is a merit and need-based one. We require filing of the FAFSA to ensure students are considered for federal and state need-based funding. Students who are eligible and successfully complete the GEAR UP Iowa program will receive a $4000 scholarship to attend Wartburg College. Details below.

Our Pathway's Center Director meets with student advisors to provide resources and trainings. During her sessions she discusses ways we can better support first generation college students. The manual for Academic Advising Standards and Guidelines also provides guidance to faculty for guidance in how to include diversity in advising situations.

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP) Iowa was created to significantly increase the number of low-income and underrepresented students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Participants in the year round program will discover the importance of education, improve academic skills, identify career interests, and explore college opportunities. Beginning in the 2008-2009 academic year, the GEAR UP Iowa program began to provide resources to students as they progress from 7th to 12th grade, helping them plan, prepare and pay for college. Students who are eligible and complete the program will receive a $4000 scholarship to attend Wartburg College. The Summer Bridge Program “Summer Knights”- has the goal of facilitating a smooth transition to a successful college experience. During the Second Summer Session select students will work closely with the Summer Bridge Team, as they take classes and learn to navigate the infrastructure of Wartburg. The program specifically aims to serve domestic students who are anticipated to experience a challenging transition to a small liberal arts college in the rural Midwest, such as first generation college students, students from urban areas, etc. Last year we started a variety of financial literacy initiatives for students. It includes a Facebook page, monthly workshops, Trumpet articles, and continued research into what else we can do. Students from challenging backgrounds are encouraged to join the College Achievement Program (CAP). This pairs an incoming student with an older students. they meet regularly and the student mentor provides guidance through all areas of higher education, including: transitioning to college, time management skills, test preparation techniques, note-taking, self-motivation, goal-setting, financial management, stress reduction, choosing a major, Wartburg support services, getting involved on campus, and much more. The weekly meeting, combined with monthly all group activities helps the student transition and provides a means of communication to addresses challenges. The Extended College Achievement Program (CAP+) is similar to CAP, but specifically seeks to support American ethnic first-year students with the transition to college. The structure is very similar to CAP.

We have some institutional grants, such as the Wartburg College Grant, Diversity Grant, and Out of State Grant that we use to increase funding to students whose need is not being met at various levels with their academic funding. We also have some more specific funded and endowed scholarships; such as the R.J. McElroy Minority Scholarship and Harry & Polly Slife Minority Scholarship that target diverse students to receive full tuition at Wartburg College.

Bridge Program Director sends letter to parents to help orient them to higher education. The letter includes background of the higher ed experience to help parents support their students even though they have not been to college themselves. During orientation in 2015 the schedule is being adjusted to allow time for, and encourage parents to make an appointment with financial aid.

Wartburg College does have a recruitment officer who conducts targeted recruitment to school districts in the Chicagoland and Detroit area. Many of their target schools are considered low-income. The officer covering these areas is also working to train the other officers in diversity and inclusion.

Wartburg is a rolling admission institution, which means we accept applications on a continual basis. Admission decisions are based on meeting specific academic requirements. Minimums are a 2.5 g.p.a., 19 Act and top 50% of graduating class. Students are not evaluated for admission based on their ability to pay, but the college works with students and families to help with financial resources to pay for college. Students who do not meet the above academic requirements are submitted for consideration by the admission scholarship committee comprised of Wartburg faculty, staff and administration.

Additional Responsible Party includes Financial Aid, Pathways Center staff, and Enrollment Management. We are not able to quantify the percent of students benefiting from low-income programs as they are being served across campus, making it likely any departmental counts would cause double counts of people.