Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.15
Liaison Yumiko Jakobcic
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

Grand Valley State University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Norman Christopher
Executive Director
Sustainable Community Development Initiative
"---" 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 the institution’s participation in federal TRIO programs:

GVSU has participated in TRiO programs since 1978. Our programs assist low-income and first generation students to persist and pursue the next grade level, graduate from high school, and enroll in the college of their choice after high school graduation. These programs also assist students who are returning to college who have not completed a bachelor's degree, as well as high school and middle school dropouts to resume their education. Preference in the programs are for low-income and first generation status as well as students attending a target school. These TRiO programs are:

Educational Support Program, www.gvsu.edu/esp
Educational Talent Search, www.gvsu.edu/ets
McNair Scholars Program, www.gvsu.edu/mcnair
Upward Bound Program, www.gvsu.edu/ub


A brief description of the institution’s policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students?:

The Financial Aid Office establishes a packaging policy that addresses the needs of all students and targets grant dollars to low income students. In addition to 7.3 million dollars in institutional grant assistance, federal grant dollars were awarded to 6,500 low income students in 2009-2010.

26 million in Federal Pell Grants
1.4 million in Federal Supplemental Grants
1.2 million in Federal Academic Competitive Grants
1.375 million in Federal SMART Grants

GVSU also provides Federal TEACH Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Parent Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Nursing Loans and Federal College Work-Study and Michigan Competitive Scholarships to needy students.

http://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid


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

Within the professional programs sponsored by the offices of Inclusion & Equity, Student Academic Success Center, Student Services, and Faculty Teaching & Learning Center, faculty and staff develop collaborative connections and initiatives to serve students from disadvantaged environments.


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

GVSU's Upward Bound program prepares underserved and/or first-generation college-bound students in grades nine through twelve for success in high school and enrollment in college. Once accepted, a student can participate until graduation from high school. All services are provided at no cost to participants. The program provides academic instruction, tutoring, counseling, and cultural activities designed to build the academic skills, motivation, and self-confidence necessary for success in college. The program also offers assistance in the search for financial aid and scholarships, as well as support in completing the college admissions process.

www.gvsu.edu/ub


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

GVSU provided 7.3 million dollars in need-based grant assistance targeted to low income students for the 2009-2010 award year. That amount has increased to approximately 9.3 million dollars for the 2010-2011 award year.

Additionally, $208,000 was awarded to 139 low income students from endowed and restricted scholarships for the 2009-2010 award year. For 2010-2011, this amount increased to $377,000 awarded to 311 students.

http://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid


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

In addition to school visitations by our Admissions, Financial Aid, and Upward Bound Program representatives, campus visitations are offered. A number of online resources are also made available to parents:

http://www.gvsu.edu/ub/resources-for-parents-10.htm
http://www.gvsu.edu/parentsfamilies.htm
http://www.gvsu.edu/familyassociation


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

During the recruitment process, the Admissions Office uses the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory Report from the U.S. Department of Education to assist in identifying high schools with a high concentration of students from low-income families. Targeted recruitment activities include: high school visits by an admissions representative, onsite admissions decisions, and bus trips for groups to tour the Allendale Campus and experience campus life.

http://www.gvsu.edu/admissions


A brief description of the institution’s other admissions policies and programs:

Once admitted to the university and a FAFSA filed, all Pell eligible students are contacted by an admissions representative to ensure understanding of their financial aid award letter. Students are also introduced to the services and support programs of the Student Academic Success Center to enrich their higher education experience.


A brief description of the institution’s other financial aid polices or programs:

Dollars are available to students through GVSU merit based programs, GVSU departmental scholarships, GVSU athletic scholarships, other State of Michigan grant programs, endowed scholarships, scholarships from outside agencies and alternative loans through outside lenders.

http://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs not covered above:

To provide opportunities for graduates of the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) to attend college, the Joan A. Panopoulos Scholarship was created to give qualified students assistance with the cost of their education at GVSU. The scholarship is designed to benefit GRPS students who have participated in the TRiO Upward Bound (UB) Program. Preference will be given to the Upward Bound student who has participated in the GVSU TRiO UB Program. If no one from the GVSU TRiO UB program applies, candidates that have participated in other TRiO programs offered in Grand Rapids (MI) and graduated from a Grand Rapids public school will be considered. Additionally, candidates who are former TRiO students who have graduated from a Grand Rapids public school and earned an associate’s degree from Grand Rapids Community College will be considered for this scholarship award.


The website URL where information about programs in each of the areas listed above is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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