Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.85
Liaison Laura Young
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Michigan State University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.04 / 4.00 Mara Spears
Sustainability Program Coordinator
Office of the EVP for Administration
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

Support for Low-Income Students

Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

None
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
"MSU TRIO Student Support Services provides resources and preparation for students with low-income backgrounds, first generation students, and students with disabilities. Support for students through TRIO SSS occurs within and outside the classroom. http://trio.oss.msu.edu/ The Spartan Advantage Program aides needy students in reducing their loan debt. The program description is quoted with the following: ""Eligible students receive sufficient grants, scholarships, and work study funds to cover the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, and books."" https://finaid.msu.edu/spad.asp The Office of Financial Aid offers degrees of monetary support for students who apply for financial aid. https://finaid.msu.edu/contact.asp

None
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
"The Office of Faculty and Organizational Development (F&OD) supports MSU faculty, academic staff and administrators in their ongoing quest for excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and leadership. To accomplish this goal, FOD offers a broad range of seminars and programs, services, and resources in two programmatic strands: Faculty and Instructional Development Organizational and Leadership Development http://ien.inclusion.msu.edu/members/Office-Faculty-and-Organizational-Development-FOD https://www.hr.msu.edu/professional-development/faculty-academic-staff/"

A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
"MSU TRIO Student Support Services Offers students: Academic Tutoring Individualized Counseling Peer Mentorship Academic Skills Workshop Course & Major Selection Assistance Academic Support for Special Populations Financial & Economic Literacy Education FAFSA and Scholarship Search Application Assistance Graduate & Professional Program Application Assistance Employment and Professional Development Opportunities The MSU Student Parent Resource Center provides a variety of financial options, resources, and scholarships for student-parents, students with families, and nontraditional students: http://studentparents.msu.edu/scholarships/scholarships-overview/ MSU Offers a guide to students with families: http://com.msu.edu/Students/Academic_Career_Guidance/Students%20with%20Families%20MSUCOM%20Guide.pdf"

None
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
"Educational assistance is available to students in many forms, including: * Student loans * Parent loans * Scholarships and grants * Student employment, work-study * Education savings plans * Tax credits * Tuition reduction plans * Veterans' benefits * Fellowships * Assistanceships * Tuition reimbursement Assistance might be awarded by the federal or state government, the university or private sources such as employers and community organizations.

A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
"MSU was awarded $4.9 million by the National Science Foundation to support low-income students through scholarships to study STEM and Natural Science at MSU: https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2018/msu-to-use-49m-nsf-grant-for-low-income-students-studying-natural-science/

A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
"MSU was awarded $4.9 million by the National Science Foundation to support low-income students through scholarships to study STEM and Natural Science at MSU: https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2018/msu-to-use-49m-nsf-grant-for-low-income-students-studying-natural-science/"

Support for Non-Traditional Students 

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:
"The MSU Student Parent Resource Center provides a variety of financial options, resources, and scholarships for student-parents, students with families, and nontraditional students: http://studentparents.msu.edu/scholarships/scholarships-overview/ http://studentparents.msu.edu/non-traditional-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:
"MSU has many partnerships with child-care facilities. Local partnerships exist, but so do state and regional partnerships, as MSU understands the outreach of the university extends further than East Lansing and parents may be traveling from a long way off. MSU also provides resources for nanny services and seniors care. MSU also hosts a College Caregivers program, and student parents kind find care, look at student profiles, and search by college: http://studentparents.msu.edu/family-resources/finding-child-care/ MSU also hosts scholarship programs for student parents, including the Christine S. Carter fund, the Council of Graduate Students Childcare Support Award, and the Student Parents on a Mission Scholarship. http://studentparents.msu.edu/scholarships/scholarships-overview/"

A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
"MSU offers specific scholarships and financial aid for student parents and students with children: https://finaid.msu.edu/stuwithkids.asp MSU also has a support group for students with children: Student Parents on a Mission https://msu.edu/~studentp/"

Part 2 

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):
19

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
71

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):
53.83

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):
60

Optional Fields 

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):
58.80

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://finaid.msu.edu/default.asp

Additional documentation to support the submission:
PA7 FINAL.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Addition information can found on the annual diversity report: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/annual-report/2016-17%20Diversity%20at%20MSU%20Student%20and%20Workforce%20Data%20Report_Accessible.pdf https://opb.msu.edu/functions/institution/cds-2017-2018.pdf

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.