Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.62
Liaison Michael Kensler
Submission Date Jan. 11, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Auburn University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 4.00 Overtoun Jenda
Assoc. Provost, Diversity & Multicultural Affairs
Diversity & Multicultural Affairs
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship (PLUS) Program – The PLUS program was instituted to increase diversity among the undergraduate student population at Auburn University, with an emphasis on students from underserved populations. The program assists seventy students per year financially by providing a $2,000 scholarship per academic year renewable up to four years, and supports them academically and socially to ensure that they are successful at Auburn University. Retention activities include peer mentoring, workshops on time management and study skills, tutoring and counseling services, leadership opportunities, and enrolling new students in freshman level core classes together. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/FundingPriorities/PLUS


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

The university does not have a specific program to train faculty and staff in this manner.


A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

Family University – Family University was established through a partnership of Access and Community Initiatives and Loachapoka High School. The program is designed to address the college readiness of students in grades 7-12 at Loachapoka High School. Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs staff members visited the school weekly throughout the academic year and worked with the students on topics such as ACT preparation, career development, financial aid, admissions processes, writing skills, etc.

Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) Program – SEE is an intensive four-week residential summer program for over 30 underserved students. The program is staffed by Mathematics and English faculty, graduate teaching assistants, counselors, and academic advisors. Students take two classes designed to prepare them for freshman-level coursework and participate in parallel workshops supplementing the classroom instruction. The aims of the program are to increase enrollment for underserved populations, increase students’ mathematics and English skills, expose students earlier to various fields, develop study and time management skills, and introduce students to a network of faculty, staff, and fellow minority students. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/see


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship (PLUS) Program – The PLUS program was instituted to increase diversity among the undergraduate student population at Auburn University, with an emphasis on students from underserved populations. The program assists seventy students per year financially by providing a $2,000 scholarship per academic year renewable up to four years, and supports them academically and socially to ensure that they are successful at Auburn University. Retention activities include peer mentoring, workshops on time management and study skills, tutoring and counseling services, leadership opportunities, and enrolling new students in freshman level core classes together. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/FundingPriorities/PLUS

The Ever to Conquer Scholarship was established in 2015 as an effort to increase the diversity of Auburn University’s student population. The scholarships are in the amount of $20,000 over four years ($5,000 per year) for incoming freshmen or $10,000 over two years ($5,000 per year) for incoming transfer students. Incoming freshmen must have a minimum 22 ACT or 1040 SAT score and a minimum 3.0 high school GPA. Transfer students must have a minimum of 30 transfer hours and a minimum 3.0 cumulative transfer GPA. Priority consideration is given to students who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant. Ever to Conquer recipients participate in all activities of the PLUS Retention Program.

Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarships in the amount of $5,000 per year, renewable for four years, are also available to incoming first generation students. These scholarship recipients also participate in all activities of the PLUS Retention Program.


A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:

Roadmap to College – “Roadmap to College” posters were distributed to K-12 students throughout the state of Alabama. These posters provide students, parents, and counselors with a useful, step-by-step process to assist in preparing for a four-year college or university. Information is provided on topics including course recommendations, financial aid resources, application processes, college entrance tests, etc. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/outreach


A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

Minority Recruiting – The Auburn University Office of Admissions works with the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA) to focus on minority recruiting. An ODMA Admissions Advisor/Coordinator of Recruitment Services works to establish pre-college programs targeted at attracting a diverse student population from predominantly African American, Hispanic American, and economically-disadvantaged communities, and serves as a recruitment territorial manager. Other minority recruitment activities include Auburn University Minority Preview Day, counselor workshops and visitation days, receptions honoring high-achieving minority students, financial aid workshops for students and parents, college fairs, and visits to predominantly minority high schools. http://www.auburn.edu/admissions/preview/


A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

Auburn University is seeking to admit students that:
Reflect the University's mission as the state's leading research university;
Represent the unique strengths and characteristics of students from across the state and beyond; and
Meet the Enrollment Guidelines established by the Board of Trustees.
In order to achieve these goals, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will consider the Grade point average and ACT/SAT score.

The admissions office encourages students interested in attending Auburn to complete the application process. Students are expected to be adequately prepared to succeed academically at Auburn as evidenced by their admissions test scores, high-school grades, and educational preparation. All interested students will be considered on an individual basis.
http://www.auburn.edu/admissions/faq.html


A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

Students receive guidance in accessing a range of financial aid instruments.
Policies exist and are explained for both credit hour and satisfactory progress requirements.
General Financial Aid Policies and Conditions of Award can be found at the following websites.

http://www.financialaid.auburn.edu

http://www.auburn.edu/administration/business_office/sfs/policies-procedures.html


A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:

N/A


Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

None


A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

The Auburn University Early Learning Center (AUELC) is a nationally-accredited laboratory preschool located in the heart of Auburn University’s campus that is available to any child in the community. The AUELC offers classes for children ages three, four, and five. Children “learn by doing” and are guided by a curriculum designed to capitalize upon knowledge of how young children learn. The facility also maintains a research mission and is designed to maximize opportunities to conduct developmental research on children and their families.


A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

The Veterans Resource Center helps students make the transition from military life to civilian life at AU. The center provides students with the resources that they need in order to succeed at Auburn. The center serves students who have completed their service, interrupted their education to serve and are returning, or those who began their studies elsewhere and have transferred to Auburn.

The Successfully Orienting Students (SOS) Program is Auburn’s orientation program specifically designed for transfer students. SOS emphasizes campus life and services, meetings with academic advisors, and small group discussions on college life led by Auburn student leaders.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
No

Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
Percentage (0-100)
The percentage of entering students that are low-income ---
The graduation/success rate for low-income students ---
The percentage of student financial need met, on average ---
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt ---

The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
---

The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

This website lists diversity services at Auburn University.
https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/resources


The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.