Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.96
Liaison Stephanie Corbett
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Case Western Reserve University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.38 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs 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:

CWRU offers Summer Research Programs (URL below), some of which are specifically for minority, low-income, or disabled students in certain degree programs. One such program is the 'Heart, Lung and Blood Minority Research Training Program', which offers students valuable experience as well as a monetary stipend.
https://case.edu/medicine/admissions/research/summer-research-programs/


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

CWRU's School of Graduate Studies website contains resources for faculty including this page on 'Responsible Conduct of Research'. This page and other linked pages offer faculty guidance on how to outline mentor/trainee responsibilities.
https://case.edu/gradstudies/current-students/responsible-conduct-of-research/


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

The Summer Enrichment & Opportunity Program and the ACES+ program help prepare low-income / underrepresented minority students for further education in science and engineering.
SEO: The Center for Science, Health & Society at the School of Medicine (SOM) has partnered with the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) , and Hathaway Brown (HB) School , a private, suburban preparatory school for girls to establish the Scientific Enrichment and Opportunity (SEO) Program. This initiative brings the considerable faculty talent and resources of the SOM to bear on the CMSD. This research experience is intended to enhance student interests in the biomedical sciences, provide them with unparalleled professional experience in the sciences, and bring them into contact with the SOM's faculty for both academic and career mentoring.
In addition, since the CMSD contains a large percentage of minority students, with nearly 80% being either African-American or Hispanic, the SEO program affords underrepresented minorities an opportunity that they might not otherwise get to experience hands-on science. Through the program, these students also receive the stimulus and reinforcement from a unique supportive network comprised of CMSD science teachers and guidance counselors, SOM faculty, and parents to continue on to post-secondary education - and subsequently careers - in science.
The ACES+ summer research program for Science and Engineering (S&E) minority undergraduate students is an intensive, hands-on, 10 week session and seeks to attract students to pursue research in science or engineering as a career. The student will participate in ongoing projects with a faculty mentor's research program. In addition, students will attend lectures by S&E faculty and give one poster presentation at the end of the program. ACES students are welcome to attend one of the pre-med courses, which include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, and to take part in all social events and outings for the HHMI and NIH-funded summer research students.


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

The Louis Stokes Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship
is intended to help economically and educationally disadvantaged students attain an education at Case Western Reserve University, offering a full-tuition award, renewable for up to five years; a grant of up to $2,500 to cover the purchase of a computer and books; and assistance securing a paid summer internship.
Additionally, the CWRU African American Alumni Association (AAAA) will launch a five-year campaign in mid-November to collect funds to increase the endowment of scholarships for African American students.


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

Their are several programs. On such is the School of Medicine's Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) is an NIH-funded program that recruits recent undergraduates, including low-income students, to become researchers for one year in preparation to enter a graduate degree program and embark on a career in the biomedical sciences; PREP Scholars are encouraged to apply to CWRU and other top-ranked biomedical science PhD programs.


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

Requirements for on-campus residence and a meal plan for the first two years allows those costs to be folded into financial aid assistance. They also ensure that new students have access to shelter and food.

* Payment for on-campus housing and meals are at the beginning of the semester and through financial aid, so that there is not a need for monthly payment.

* Most student activities and organizations are primarily funded through Student Activities Fees, paid by all students, so that students can participate in events and organizations no or minimal additional cost.

* Many events on campus include food, which is attractive to all students but particularly helpful to those experiencing food insecurity.

* Greek Life has a program that provides assistance for chapter members with demonstrated financial need. The fund is replenished by the fundraising activities of the Greek Community. It is the "Emergency Dues Assistance Fund," described here: https://case.edu/annualgiving/get-involved/greek-week

* Students are eligible for a variety of merit-based awards and scholarships throughout their undergraduate years. Examples:
https://case.edu/ugstudies/honors-fellowships-awards/departmental-collegiate-awards/
https://case.edu/ugstudies/honors-fellowships-awards/fellowships-scholarships/
http://thedaily.case.edu/delta-chi-fraternity-offers-400-man-excellence-scholarship/
https://students.case.edu/traditions/awards/piepho/

​* University scholarship retention minimum is good academic standing, a lower minimum than many universities' scholarship retention criteria, which can be 3.0 or 3.5.

* Food Pantry: The Division of Student Affairs partners with Covenant Student Ministries, which maintains the "Covenant Food Pantry" near the center of campus. The program services all students regardless of faith tradition, and provides options for non-food supplies, and for pick-up or alternate hand-off locations to serve each students' needs.

* Community dinners: The Division of Student Affairs partners with the Inter-religious Council to promote a calendar of community dinners open to students and non-students, at locations nearby and sponsored by diverse religions and faith communities.

* Cache Resale Shop: The Division of Student Affairs partners with Covenant Student Ministries, which maintains the Cache Resale Shop. http://covenantweb.org/serve/cache-resale-shop, located near the center of campus.

* Menstrual products are stocked in first-floor university restrooms (and some others), free of charge, for anyone's use. http://observer.case.edu/menstrual-product-dispensers-placed-in-campus-bathrooms/

* Student fees, included in the cost of attendance for full-time students and covered by financial aid, give students access to University Health and Counseling Services (physical and mental health professionals and programs) for no additional charge (some specific services have an additional fee.)

* Circle Health Services (formerly the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland) is located one block from the edge of campus. http://www.circlehealthservices.org/

* With the support of a grant, services of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center are free to students and are delivered on-campus two nights per week. http://thedaily.case.edu/cwru-campus-advocates-partner-with-cleveland-rape-crisis-center/

* The CWRU shuttle transit system is free to all visitors to University Circle. In addition, the cost of an unlimited-ride RTA bus pass is included in student fees (and therefore is covered by financial aid.)

* There are many Co-op and paid internship programs:
https://engineering.case.edu/coop/
https://students.case.edu/career/experiential/practicums/

* Student Affairs sponsors several programs that give all full-time students access to local museums and to selected concerts of the Cleveland Orchestra at no charge. Most are walkable from campus, and the few other museums in the program can be reached by the RTA county transit system, which is also free for students.

* Laptops and other technology devices are available to be borrowed at the Kelvin Smith Library. Also, there are multiple computer labs on campus. Each student receives a free allotment of printing and any of many printing kiosks.


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

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

There are many offered, one example is The Weatherhead School of Business offers a substaintial scholarship specifically for students interested in pursuing a part-time MBA.

https://weatherhead.case.edu/news/2015/01/20/weatherhead-offers-30000-scholarship-for-part-time-mba-students


A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

CWRU has established a relationship with Erin's Nannies, a service that places caregivers with families with some costs covered by the University.

Also, reimbursement is available for child care expenses incurred during University-related travel and some emergency expenses are covered by this same service locally (conferences, professional development, etc), given authorization from a Faculty Advisor.

https://case.edu/finadmin/humres/benefits/childcare.html


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

N/A


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
No

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
15

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
78

On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
94

The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
51

Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students (0-100):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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.