Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.33
Liaison Michael Amadori
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Hobart and William Smith Colleges
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.20 / 4.00 John Young
Dean
Admissions
"---" 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:

Pell grants
The Colleges have increased the share of Pell-eligible students (15% of students are Pell recipients). The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education.

Geneva Scholarship Associates
HWS has enabled nearly 200 students from the local Geneva High School who have financial need to attend the Colleges.

Financial Aid
The Colleges have expanded financial aid in the past five years from $43 million to $52 million.


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

Students admitted through the Higher Education Opportunity Program begin with a summer intensive program to ensure they are fully equipped to thrive at the Colleges. Students take five courses which include but are not limited to: writing, science, and study skills.

Geneva 2020
The Colleges are piloting a unique program rooted in the collective impact model aimed directly at ensuring that low-income high school students in our community have the skills necessary to graduate from high school and to effectively pursue college. The program has already helped move the local high school graduation rate from 70% in 2010 to 84.9% in 2016, and to increase the number of local high school students entering college from 74% in 2009 to 76% in 2013. Geneva 2020 is an important effort to advance the Geneva schools and build a stronger community. By harnessing the resources of the entire Geneva community - non-profits, businesses, and individuals - we can provide assistance in four keys areas identified by the Geneva City School District as being critical to the future of Geneva's children: to increase graduation rates, improve literacy, boost college and career readiness, and ensure every child enters school ready to learn.
http://www2.hws.edu/geneva-schools-awarded-5-85-million-grant/


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

Geneva Scholarship Associates
Through the Geneva Scholarship Associates program, The Colleges have enabled nearly 200 students from the local Geneva High School who have financial need to attend the Colleges.

Pell Grants
The Colleges have increased the share of Pell-eligible students (15% of students are Pell recipients). The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is available to U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens enrolled in an eligible undergraduate degree or certificate program on a full- or part-time basis. Up to $4,000/year can be awarded. It was awarded to 8% of our students.


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

Higher Education Opportunity Program
The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides access to educationally and economically disadvantaged students, increasing campus diversity.

Posse
In 2012, the Colleges partnered with Posse, one of the most successful college access and youth leadership development programs in the country. Posse helps to identify promising youth in public high schools around the country through a process that takes into account academic and leadership potential that may have been overlooked by standard practices. In doing so, Posse expands the pool from which top colleges and universities recruit students from diverse backgrounds.

At HWS, the New Jersey SEEDS (Scholars, Educators, Excellence, Dedication and Success) welcomes students for an immersive academic experience and introduction to college life. Through the NJ SEEDS College Preparatory Program (CPP) Summer Collegiate Experience — a three-year academic enrichment program for high-achieving public high school students in low-socioeconomic communities — high school seniors take English classes, reading seminars, writing labs, and “College 201” courses. The NJ SEEDS program is made possible each year in large part due to the continuous participation of HWS faculty and through the endorsement by alums.

Lastly, there are funds available to help students from low-income families visit campus. Through bus trips, train or plane tickets, or group visits from community-based organizations, the Colleges support students from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds in learning more about HWS.


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

The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is for New York residents attending a New York college. The student must demonstrate financial need and meet the economic and educational eligibility criteria of the program. The program provides up to $3,363/year, as determined by the institution and state funding levels.

The HWS Academic Opportunity Program (HWSAOP) is geared toward Hobart and William Smith students.The student must demonstrate financial need and meet the economic and educational eligibility criteria of the program. The awards are variable.


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:
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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 Geneva Lakefront Childcare Center will waive registration fees for students, faculty, and staff from Hobart & William Smith Colleges.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
Yes

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
13

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):
79

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):
50

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:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Representatives from Hobart and William Smith Colleges attended a Higher Education Summit at the White House. This summit launched a plan of action for increasing college opportunity for low-income and disadvantaged students. The Summit included discussions about higher education's role in increasing college opportunities, an initiative that has been a primary focus of the Colleges.


Representatives from Hobart and William Smith Colleges attended a Higher Education Summit at the White House. This summit launched a plan of action for increasing college opportunity for low-income and disadvantaged students. The Summit included discussions about higher education's role in increasing college opportunities, an initiative that has been a primary focus of the Colleges.

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.