| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.62 |
| Liaison | Lisa Kilgore |
| Submission Date | March 7, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Cornell University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Lynette
Chappell-Williams Associate VP Workforce Diversity & Inclusion |
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of the institution’s participation in federal TRIO programs:
The Public Service Center currently has federal TRIO program with Upward Bound.
http://www.psc.cornell.edu/upward-bound-1606.html
The Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives also has a TRIO program, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/services/McNair/about.cfm
A brief description of the institution’s policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students?:
The University provides what is known as need-based aid. This means that a calculation based on the information from FASFA and the CSS Profile is used to create a financial aid award for students. The University also has a policy for parent contributions based on assets and income. If a family has income below $60,000 and assets less than $100,000, that student can receive a package without a parent contribution and without a loan in the package. If the income is slightly higher, $75,000 and assets valued at more than $100,000, that family may be required to provide a parent contribution, and the loans will be capped at $2,500. If the family income is between $75,000 and $120,000, the loan is capped at $5,000 in the package. And if the family income is above $120,000, the loan is capped at $7,500 in the package. All of these options make Cornell a very affordable institution for our neediest students.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to equip the institution's faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The University has several offerings designed to support faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds. Through the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), many resources are available online for faculty as they plan and design courses, syllabi, and teaching strategies. Staff from the office are available for consultation on issues and serve as resources. Additionally, CTE sponsors the Faculty Institute on Diversity, a three day institute that brings faculty together to discuss issues related to diversity and how to incorporate and infuse them into all aspects of their teaching.
Through the McNair program, workshops have been offered for faculty mentors on working with the diverse backgrounds of the scholars and how to support them on their path to PhDs.
The Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives and the Office of Institutional Research and Planning regularly provide data to colleges and departments about the progress, retention, and achievement of students who are Pell-Grant eligible and those on financial aid in comparison with all other students.
Training and resources for staff are also provided through the Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity.
http://www.cte.cornell.edu/index.html
https://www.hr.cornell.edu/diversity/
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/services/McNair/about.cfm
A brief description of the institution’s programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
One program that works with low-income students to prepare for college is the Pre-Freshman Summer program. While not every student enrolled in the program is from a low-income background, the majority of the students are. This program is designed to be a bridge program for students to aid in the preparation and transition and from high school to college. This is a requirement for students enrolled in Cornell through the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) for low-income NYS residents. These two programs are administered in conjunction with the seven undergraduate colleges and schools through the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives. NYS residents from low-income backgrounds who are considered academically underprepared are selected for the program and through financial and academic support are given admission to Cornell. The Prefreshmen Summer Program helps to prepare them for the academic year.
Cornell has several scholarship programs for high school students from low-income backgrounds to attend our residential Summer College, and we also partner with the Telluride Foundation on campus to bring a similar cohort of students to that summer program.
We have conducted financial aid application workshops in NYC the last 4 years.
http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/types-aid
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/heop
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/types-aid
Cornell has made the commitment to students who demonstrate financial need by meeting that need with one or more financial aid components. Each aid application is carefully reviewed and a specific aid package is designed to meet each students' particular need.
Building on a long history of providing opportunity and access to students regardless of economic circumstances, Cornell also has several financial aid initiatives to help ease the financial burden for undergraduate students and their parents.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/cost-attend/financial-aid-initiatives
Cornell has implemented several financial initiatives as part of our commitment to provide need-based aid and make Cornell affordable for admitted students.
Parent Contribution Initiative
Families with a total family income of less than $60,000, and total assets of less than $100,000 (including primary home equity), will have no parent contribution. Total family income equals adjusted gross income for the most recent tax year, plus any business or other losses, as well as any untaxed income. In cases of divorce or separation, we calculate total family income for each parent and add them together.
Loan Initiatives
Cornell is committed to keeping student loans at a reasonable level. Need-based loans included in aid packages are capped based on total family income. Our loan initiatives are outlined in the chart below.
Total family income Loan in aid package
Under $60,000 annually
$0
Between $60,00 and 75,000 annually
$2,500
Between $75,00 and 120,000 annually
$5,000
Above $120,000 annually
$7,500
Total family income equals adjusted gross income for the most recent tax year, plus any business or other losses, as well as any untaxed income. In cases of divorce or separation, we calculate total family income for each parent and add them together.
Award Match Initiative
To improve Cornell’s competitiveness in recruiting and enrolling undergraduate students, Cornell will commit to increasing grant aid by matching the family contribution components and lower loan level of financial aid offers from other Ivy schools. We will also strive to match the family contribution components and lower loan levels of financial aid offers from Stanford, Duke, and MIT.
The Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives provides financial support to bring low-income parents to Cornell's first-year parents weekend and to attend commencement, including fully-sponsored transportation, housing, and meals.
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Through the NYS Opportunity Programs (EOP/HEOP), the Director and Assistant Director travel across NYS recruiting through college fairs as well as high school and community based organization visits. They discuss these programs with prospective high school students. The office works collaboratively with the Undergraduate Admissions Office to coordinate trips, materials, and outreach across the state as well as participate in any on-campus bus trips from agencies and high schools.
A brief description of the institution’s other admissions policies and programs:
Cornell University recently began a partnership with the Posse Foundation. The Posse Foundation is a college access and youth leadership program that matches promising high school students with top-tier colleges and universities across the United States. Each year these students enter college in a multicultural cohort (Posses) of 10. The first Posse began during the Fall 2013 semester.
A brief description of the institution’s other financial aid polices or programs:
http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/cost-attend/financial-aid-eligibility
The amount of financial assistance a family needs each year is determined by the following formula:
Total Cost to Attend
Estimated costs include:
Tuition and fees
Housing (standard double-room rate)
Dining (Bear Traditional meal plan)
Books and supplies
Travel and miscellaneous
Family Contribution
Income, assets, family size, and the number of children in college are all considered when calculating the amount your family can contribute. If parents are separated or not married, Cornell reviews each one’s financial information. Usually, each parent is expected to contribute, and that expectation continues throughout your undergraduate years.
Cornell may make exceptions to this if a family has special circumstances.
Financial Need
After deducting what a family can pay from the total cost to attend, a financial need is determined. A financial need may be met with a combination of work, loans and grants.
Consistency
We try hard to be consistent in the way we consider financial circumstances from year to year. If a family's financial circumstances remain relatively unchanged throughout your time at Cornell, a predictable financial aid package each year can be expected.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs not covered above:
The Pre Professional Programs (P3) is a programming and support initiative housed in the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives for the purpose of recruiting, preparing and graduating underrepresented, economically disadvantaged, or first-generation students to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and Professional fields.
Additionally, OADI provides Community Development and Social Justice Programming through which students from non-traditional backgrounds are engaged and supported. A particular focus is on first-generation college students through the "First In Class" as well as non-traditional students through the "Trailblazers" programs. Each of these programs offer regular workshops and meetings to provide support to students and assist them in navigating through higher education.
OADI also provides funding support for students involved in the programs to be able to obtain experiences through research, internships, and other professional development ventures.
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/services/cdsj/about.cfm
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/preprofessional/
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/services/funding/index.cfm
The website URL where information about programs in each of the areas listed above is available:
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.