Keene State College
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

We have active Upward Bound and Aspire programs. The mission statement for Aspire: Aspire provides students with academic support services designed to enhance success. The program attempts to help students improve their performance in classes, and increase the likelihood that students will graduate. Upward Bound: the Upward Bound program prepares high school students for success in high school and enrollment in college. Upward Bound provides academic, counseling, social, and recreational activities designed to build the academic skills, motivation, and self-confidence necessary for success in college. This program is based on the campus of Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire, and has been in operation since 1974.

Part of our mission is: As a public institution, we provide educational opportunities for all qualified students and continue our heritage of service to New Hampshire and the New England region. We have an excellent web site with information about the costs of attending KSC, as well as links to loans, grants and other funding streams. Personnel in Student Financial Services and Admissions are excellent resources for all of our students, with up to date information. Admission fees can be waived for students with financial needs and over 60% of scholarships/grants go to students who have been identified as in financial need. On average, 70% of the financial aid needs of students who were awarded any need-based aid were met.

Aspire works to raise awareness of class issues on campus, especially ones that impact students, and we also work to foster a climate of institutional support for this population.

The Aspire Program offers: • individualized peer tutoring • study-skills workshops • study-skills handouts • skill building • academic advising • financial-aid advising • one-on-one educational counseling • a small computer lab for Aspire students • Supplemental Instruction Program • Link Program Aspire encourages students to take full advantage of the services available at Keene State. They also assist students in examining their strengths and limitations in order to create a realistic schedule of classes. LINK program: The Link program is a six-week summer program designed for first-time college students. The purpose of Link is to expose students to the academic and social expectations of college in a supportive learning community. The program takes place in classrooms, a residence hall, around campus and in the local Keene community. Co-curricular and classroom components are integrated in an attempt to make learning relevant and meaningful. Link components are designed to improve and develop skills such as college reading, writing, critical thinking, and communication. At the close of the six weeks, student are better able to handle the varied demands of college and be active, contributing members of the Keene State College community. Plus, students pursuing high credit majors have already completed two required courses prior to the fall semester!

Many of the available endowed scholarships, grants and scholarships, including our Leadership Award Scholarship, have a need based component. Two thirds of our institutional grants go towards students who've been identified as in need of financial support. That includes endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers. In addition we have ready information about Title IV programs. Information is readily available on the keene.edu website.

There are a variety of resources for all parents of students at Keene State College. The voluntary system of accountability is available at http://www.keene.edu/policy/disclosure.cfm Orientation information for parents and guardians at http://www.keene.edu/orientation/parents.cfm The KSC $treet $ense program designed to help students and families understand the finances of a college education, with required participation of all incoming students. Parents of prospective students FAQ page http://admissions.keene.edu/parents/questions

Keene State College admissions is considered need blind - which means that family income is not considered when determining eligibility for admissions. Admissions counselors do familiarize themselves with income levels and college experiences of the areas in which they work. In regions where the average income level would be considered low and the first generation rate high, Admissions counselors connect with agencies such as the NHHEAF, Upward Bound and Talent Search to develop strategies to work with students through the admissions and financial aid processes. In addition, we have the Upward Bound and LINK programs

Group tours on the campus, classroom visits, virtual tours, department open houses, admitted student days, detailed web site. KSC also used the ALEAP (adult learner entrance assistance program) for adults who want to start or complete a degree. http://admissions.keene.edu/find-the-right-fit/person-to-person

Keene State has a dedicated and knowledgeable financial aid department and an excellent web site, full of useful information and links. It is an intuitive and helpful website. http://www.keene.edu/sfs/finaid.cfm

Our Elliot Center groups together helpful student services including: • Academic and Career Advising • ASPIRE • Admissions • Center for Health and Wellness • Continuing Education • Counseling Center • Dean of Students • Office of Disability Services • Global Education Office • Registrar's Office • Student Development Office • Student Financial Services • Associate Vice President for Student Affairs • Assistant Vice President for Academic Services

• http://admissions.keene.edu/find-the-right-fit/person-to-person • http://www.keene.edu/sfs/default.cfm • http://www.keene.edu/aspire/ • ww.keene.edu/aspire/link.cfm • http://www.keene.edu/elliot/ • http://www.keene.edu/upward/ • http://www.keene.edu/dc/