Truman State University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Truman Participates in the following TRIO programs: *Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement *Upward Bound *Upward Bound Bridge

Truman is very strong in this area including: *A robust scholarship program *Need-based Truman Access Grant *The full suite of state and federal financial aid programs *The new BULLDOG College Access Program, funded by a MDHE Challenge Grant, is targeted at low income, first generation students in five local high schools *The Henry Strong Foundation Loan program is new this year and provides additional financial assistance for low-income, first generation students.

Truman engages in two programs that focus on students from low income backgrounds: *Scholastic Enhancement Program - The SEE Program takes place for two weeks during the summer and gives selected and under-represented first-year students an opportunity to live on and explore what Truman’s campus has to offer before the fall semester begins. In addition to getting acquainted with the campus, SEE Scholars receive insightful advice and assistance from dedicated counselors, staff, and faculty. *Upward Bound

*Need is a consideration in the competitive merit scholarship process. *Many Foundation awards are need-based. *The Upward Bound Bridge automatic scholarship is new this year. *The automatic A+ scholarship often is awarded to low-income students as they are more likely to be pursuing a community college as a post-secondary option.

At Truman, the following steps are taken to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience: *We purchase names of first generation students and send a mailing with parent advice from the director of Admission. *The BULLDOG college access program is heavily geared to working with parents. *Admitted student parents receive an extensive parent guide and have an on-campus orientation experience tailored to them. *All parents have access to our parent website that contains a great deal of information. *Parents of inquiries and applicants receive a quarterly newsletter.

At Truman the following steps are taken to recruite students from low-income backgrounds. *We have worked to build partnerships with organizations that focus on low-income, first generation students – Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, The Greater Hispanic Scholarship Foundation in Kansas City, The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, College Summit in St. Louis, and Ada S. McKinley in Chicago. *We send a representative to many college fairs that will support underrepresented recruitment – Infinite Scholars, 100 Black Men, NACAC in St. Louis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Chicago, the National Scholarship Service college fairs in St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago, Missouri Black Expo. *We purchase names of underrepresented students in the Midwest who meet our admission criteria and send a stream of communication. *We participate in various scholarship support programs –National Hispanic Recognition Program and National Achievement Program(affiliated with National Merit) and Dollars for Scholars. *We advertise in minority publications such as College Access & Opportunity Guide and Dos Mundos (KC). *Admission counselors are encouraged to conduct early awareness outreach programs in their assigned recruitment territories.

The Scholastic Enhancement Experience (SEE) is a two week intensive program before the beginning of the fall semester of the freshman year for a selected group of students who need enrichment before launching into Truman rigor.

Selected students with low EFC’s/high financial need are granted delayed payment of the $150 housing application fee and allowed to pay $25 to secure housing prior to the release of financial aid.