Eastern Connecticut State University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

We package federal, state, institutional and external aid to assist students afford an Eastern education.

Eastern's financial aid office are trained to be open to serving students/families that bring little financial resources to the table in affording the cost of attendance.

Administered through the Academic Services Center, the Summer Transition at Eastern Program/Contract Admissions Program (STEP/CAP) is a collaborative effort to provide a wide array of support to students who are either the first to attend college, are from low-income families, or are from groups traditionally under-represented on college campuses. Prospective STEP/CAP students submit a regular application to Eastern’s Office of Admissions, which conducts the initial screening and then refers applicants to Student Development Specialist, Dr. Rick Hornung, who invites qualified applicants for an additional screening and interview during the spring semester. Decisions on STEP/CAP admissions are usually made within two-to-three weeks of the student’s interview. For six weeks, five days a week, in the summer after high school graduation, STEP/CAP students live in an Eastern residence hall and participate in a variety of classes designed to improve math, writing, study and public speaking skills. In addition to raising academic performance, the classes focus on time management, preparation and establishing academic priorities. The work load includes preparing for and taking tests, writing and revising papers – and developing skills essential to making a smooth transition to college life. Throughout the six-week session and well into the undergraduate years, STEP/CAP students are expected and encouraged to work closely with faculty, professional support staff and peer mentors in classroom, residential and tutorial settings. Successful completion of the summer portion of STEP/CAP requires an overall 2.0 grade point average, which then qualifies a student to continue as a freshman at Eastern in the fall semester. This determination is made in mid-August.

Eastern offers both need-based and academic merit-based aid for low income students. The need-based aid is awarded using the results of the FAFSA and academic merit is awarded in the admission process to students with strong high school GPA's and strong standardized test scores.

Eastern provides programming for parents during the Student Orientation Program, where the financial aid office works with parent's individually in the financial aid process and provides FAFSA completion workshops annually to supports parents and students in applying for aid.

Eastern makes an effort to visit high schools and be present at many college fairs open to high school students. Eastern also hosts two programs where middle and high school students are exposed to college life and education. The first program is called Project Awareness where high school students are invited to take a tour of Eastern's campus. Eastern also provides a program called College Knowledge where fifth and ninth graders are educated about college preparation and financial aid.

Eastern supports a STEP/CAP program that is funded through TRIO. On average, this program brings approximately 65 new students to the University each year, providing some financial support for the initial summer program, and then ongoing academic and advising support during the undergraduate years.

Eastern has made one it's top priorities to encourage students to apply for FAFSA. Eastern has worked hard to market the Priority Date for filing FAFSA, this puts students in the best possible position to receive out limited institutional aid. Eastern has also increased its resources for need based institutional aid over the past three years.

Eastern has an on campus center, the Child and Family Development Resource Center. The mission of the Margaret S. Wilson Child and Family Development Resource Center of Eastern Connecticut State University is to promote the social, emotional, cognitive, aesthetic, and physical development of young children of diverse backgrounds, to inspire, support, and educate their families, to provide a model program for future teachers and early childhood professionals, and to serve as a hub of innovative research and professional development. The Child and Family Development Resource Center is also a childcare facility. The cost to enroll a child is based on income. Children of faculty and staff, as well as those in the local community are able to register their child to attend. http://www1.easternct.edu/cfdrc/

Notes for this credit were collected from Rick Hornung in the Academic Advising Center, Indira Petoskey from Continuing Education, and Arielle Rose and June Dunn from Advising.