Missouri University of Science and Technology
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Missouri S&T has instituted a pilot need-based grant program for Pell eligible freshmen with specific levels of unmet need for Fall 2012. Based on the success of that initiative and additional data, a more comprehensive, need-based institutional grant program has been approved for Fall 2013-14.

Missouri S&T Enrollment Management and Undergraduate Studies staff members attend regular training and “best-practice” sharing as part of our participation in the Lumina Foundation Access to Success (A2S) program to increase enrollment of URM and Pell-eligible students in land-grant institutions. A2S Purpose: Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), as one of the nation’s top technological research universities, strives to integrate education and research to create and convey knowledge to solve problems for our state and the technological world. Over 75% of the current student population majors in an engineering field and more than 90% of the S&T student body are pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree. By embracing our land-grant mission of providing affordable access to high-quality mathematics STEM education to the students of Missouri and beyond, the Access to Success (A2S) initiative will provide S&T an opportunity to refine our current strategic targets for affordability and diversity, plus help ensure that we are meeting the education, workforce, and research needs of our state and the nation. Our target is to create a diverse student body that richly enhances the educational experience of students at Missouri S&T. Specifically, we will continue to develop and implement strategies through our strategic and campus-wide delivery plan that will increase the presence of underrepresented minorities, international students, first generation and low-income students—in terms of initial enrollment, matriculation, and graduation—in order to achieve a richer educational experience for all S&T students. Our success will be evidenced in a continuing upward trajectory in matriculation, retention and graduation rates of underrepresented minority and Pell Grant eligible students both as first-time freshmen and transfer undergraduate students. S&T’s strategic and tactical planning metrics will continue to be used as the regular and intermediate measures of our success for the target populations’ growth and success. Missouri S&T’s total enrollment has grown by over 47% since fall 2000. The large enrollment gains and financial resource constraints imposed by the state have created serious challenges to its educational capacity at the undergraduate level. These issues combined with anticipated demographic shifts— significant increases in lower-income and traditionally underrepresented students—in the state’s student populations indicate that a failure to engage the socioeconomic and racial/ethnic diversity of the State of Missouri would negatively impact future student enrollments and the ability of the university to meet its core educational mission. Missouri S&T has made diversity and student success campus priorities for many years by including targets and metrics for success in the campus’s strategic plan and by assigning executive leadership to address issues around college access and improved student matriculation. The A2S initiative will reemphasize the importance of documentation, assessment, and professional development for staff and faculty as S&T strives to achieve its established targets. Increasing degree attainment, student success, and education access equity is essential to the well-being of our state and our nation. If S&T cannot produce a diverse pipeline of STEM professionals for employers and industry, our state’s competitive position in the global and national economies will likely erode. A lack of qualified STEM professionals in the state is likely to further stagnate innovation and economic development. By voluntarily addressing this challenge, Missouri S&T will set an example of transparency, accountability, and responsibility for the higher education community.

Missouri S&T participated in both of the UM system programs to successfully solicit matching funds from alumni for UM system funds to create scholarships designated for very high need students.

Missouri S&T provides comprehensive Financial Aid and Billing seminars at each freshman PRO session as well as individual counseling sessions with parents/students at same. Approximately 2/3 of the attendees at each PRO session attend one or the other of these sessions.

Missouri S&T participates in the enhanced Access policy of the UM system, which grants admission to students with low test scores but high GPAs in core coursework. Missouri S&T also provides extensive Transfer Articulation agreements to allow students to begin at a less expensive transfer school and then make a seamless transition to S&T

Misosuri S&T makes available free, convenient financial aid literacy programs to all students on campus.

Missouri S&T is included twice in Newsweek's ranking of the nation's 25 "Most Affordable Schools." S&T ranks 24th in the nation in terms of affordability for out-of-state students and eighth in affordability for in-state students. When considering public universities only, Missouri S&T tops the list for out-of-state students. S&T is ranked third among public universities in terms of affordability for in-state students. The affordability ranking is part of Newsweek's "College Rankings 2012" listings. The collection of rankings was released online Monday (Aug. 6, 2012). Read the full article at http://news.mst.edu/2012/08/st_tops_newsweek_ranking_of_pu.html.