Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.34
Liaison Barry Schwalbe
Submission Date Dec. 22, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Richland Community College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 4.00 Denise Crews
Vice-President
Student & Academic Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

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A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
Student Support Services (a TRIO program) is a federally funded grant program. Its mission is to provide and coordinate a variety of educational support services to students who are first generation, students who meet federal low-income guidelines, and/or students with disabilities. The purpose of the program is to increase college retention and graduation and transfer rates for eligible participants.

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A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The TRIO program offers advising, transfer trips, cultural trips, orientation to college, leadership activities, and a variety of technology equipment to faculty and staff.

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A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Student Support Services/TRIO participants receive intensive support, tutoring, and mentoring to prepare them for higher education.

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A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
The College, through the Financial Aid Office, manages external scholarship opportunities. Many of the scholarships that are funneled through the Financial Aid Office are from donors assisting affiliated groups or targeted to low-income recipients. The Richland Foundation offers a variety of need based (for low-income students) scholarships and identifies these students through the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) number listed on their scholarship application.

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A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
Richland has two programs, College 101 and Dual Credit Night, that are targeted to parents and students in high school. These program provide an overview about how to enroll in college and dual credit opportunities while still in high school. Many of the families in attendance are likely to be low-income.

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A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
There are several opportunities in which Richland engages that has the effect of targeting low-income students. Several of the agencies that Richland partners with, including the Boys and Girls Club, DMCOC (Decatur Macon County Opportunities Corporation) and the three local GED programs. These programs typically enroll persons from low-income backgrounds and Richland regularly recruits and provides programming about becoming a college student to these agencies. In addition, each spring, Richland hosts a program College 101 on its campus that provides and overview for students and their parents to learn about how to enroll in college.

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A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Addressed above.

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A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Addressed above.

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A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:
Addressed above.

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Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

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A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
The mission of the Student Support Services/TRIO program is to provide and coordinate a variety of educational support services to students who are first generation, students who meet federal low-income guidelines, and/or students with disabilities. The purpose of the program is to increase college retention for eligible participants, including those only available for part-time enrollment.

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A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
Richland Community College offers on-site childcare and an on-site Pre-K program. Enrollment is offered to all students, employees and community members. The center is open from 7:30AM to 10PM during the school year and from 7:30-5:30 during the summer. Rates are based on parental income.

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A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Addressed above.

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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
No

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Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
Percentage (0-100)
The percentage of entering students that are low-income ---
The graduation/success rate for low-income students ---
The percentage of student financial need met, on average ---
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt ---

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The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
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The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.