| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 81.82 |
| Liaison | Ryan Ihrke |
| Submission Date | Feb. 23, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Green Mountain College
PA-7: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.71 / 4.00 |
Ryan
Ihrke Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
Support for Low-Income Students
Yes
None
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
Green Mountain College has a significant commitment to need-based aid , which is part of the College's affordability plan. GMC's matrix for awarding institutional financial aid attempts to meet 80% of Expected Family Contributions. Additionally, after low-income students are admitted, they can receive assistance from the academic coaching program, which addresses student loans and finances, among many other issues.
In addition, GMC offers three affordability guarantees to all students. The first guarantee is tuition freeze that the tuition for the student's first year, will remain the same tuition for the remainder of their time at GMC. The second guarantee is that all required textbooks will be provided to students for no additional cost. The third guarantee promises that students will graduate in four years or GMC will cover all tuition costs for any additional course work at GMC needed for graduation.
None
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
Green Mountain College received a $2,000,000 Title III grant in 2013 with funding continuing through Spring 2018. The grant is awarded to institutions that have a significant commitment to educating low income students. It provides faculty and staff with tools for significantly increasing retention and graduation rates. These tools include differentiated instruction and enhanced advising.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
The Academic Coaching Program helps prepare students for higher education. It was initially funded by a Vista grant and was taken over and funded directly by the College starting in the Fall of 2017. The program reaches out specifically to "low-income" students, defined by certain federal standards (anyone Pell Grant eligible will qualify).
The program is a specialized service that allows individuals to focus on their educational potential. This service assists students in taking charge of their academics by enhancing structure and accountability while providing new strategies and support. An academic coach works individually with students on time-management, organization, goal setting, motivation, skill development, personal accountability, confidence building, stress management, and self-advocacy.
None
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Green Mountain College offers both merit-based and need-based financial aid to all students, with a special focus on need. All students are reviewed for merit-based financial aid during the acceptance process and then for need-based financial aid during the awarding process. Need based financial aid is determined by the submission of a FAFSA and the calculated Expected Family Contributions. Low-income students will have a lower EFC and therefore would be eligible for more need-based financial assistance.
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
The College has the highest ratio of lower income students of any private liberal arts college in the state. GMC's values and curriculum, which focus on how students will be learning how to change society so that everyone lives a sustainable life, attract a disproportionate number of students who are disenfranchised by the dominant economic system in our society.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Green Mountain College offers non-application based financial aid that supports affordability of at GMC education. The Vermont Tuition Match program provides a scholarships to Vermont residents that makes attending GMC full time the same equivalent cost of attending the University of Vermont. In addition, any Community College of Vermont graduate also can receive this scholarship. The Poultney High School Tuition Match program h offers tuition to PHS graduates at a rate equal to the tuition set by Castleton State College.
GMC's on-line bachelor degree completion program
Part of the affordability equation is designing personalized, career-oriented programs that allow students to complete their undergraduate degree at their convenience. Holders of a two-year associate’s degree can take GMC courses to attain an undergraduate degree at one of the lowest costs per credit offered by online degree completion programs.
Support for Non-Traditional Students
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
There are no scholarships available specifically for part-time 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:
The institution currently does not provide support to help meet child care needs of students.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
The College has a residential requirement because the living experience on campus is critical to GMC's educational model. It waives that requirement for non-traditional students, though it tries to accommodate their needs if they choose to live on campus.
The student commuter lounge and veterans lounge, although not exclusive, provide spaces for non-traditional students to study, share meals, and socialize.
Part 2
Yes
The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
45.90
The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
34.60
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):
74
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):
17
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The performance year is FY 2017. The snapshot for incoming students was fall, 2012. "Low-income" was defined as Pell eligible.
The low-income criteria we used was US Federal TRIO.
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.