Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.35
Liaison Trevor Ledbetter
Submission Date May 2, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Arizona
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.98 / 4.00 Benjamin Champion
N/A
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

The University of Arizona offers a variety of scholarships to students and helps students find and apply for scholarships. In addition to these services, UA has established the Arizona Assurance Fund. This fund helps Arizona families send children to college without accumulating significant financial debt.

For more information on the Arizona Assurance Fund please visit http://financialaid.arizona.edu/undergraduate/arizona-assurance-scholars-program .

For more information on financial services available to underrepresented groups at the University of Arizona please visit http://diversity.arizona.edu/get-financial-resources .


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

The University of Arizona promotes faculty and staff to create inclusive environments. The Office of the Special Advisor to the President for Diversity and Inclusion maintains a website with resources for creating inclusive classrooms and workplaces. Many of the topics deal with mitigating bias as well as using alternative methods for working with students from different backgrounds.

For more information please visit http://diversity.arizona.edu/resources-creating-inclusive-classrooms


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

The University of Arizona provides programming through its Early Academic Outreach department to increase the number of low-income, minority, and first-generation college-bound students who aspire to attend and are eligible to enter a university degree program. Among programs in Early Academic Outreach, are:

Algebra Academy (AUSD, BUSD, SUSD, TUSD)
A 120-hour summer program serving rising 9th grade students with an introduction to fundamental algebraic concepts via small-group, hands-on projects where students experience the application of math to the real world.

College Academy for Parents (CAP) (SUSD)
College knowledge workshops, interactions with faculty & UA campus visits are key components of this 12-week parent outreach program that helps elementary school families develop a college plan for their children.

College Advising Corps (AUSD, FWUSD, SUSD, TUSD)
Utilizing a "near peer" model, recent college graduates are placed in f ull time positions as College Advisers in high schools to complement and build upon the school's existing college-going culture. Advisers facilitate classroom presentations, meet individually with students and engage parents in supporting their children's college aspirations.

College Knowledge for Counselors (Statewide)
A professional development conference designed to provide educators with innovative ideas of how to create a college-going culture in Arizona middle and high schools.

College Knowledge for Parents (AUSD, BUSD, FWUSD, NUSD, SCVUSD, SUSD, TUSD)
This one-day event invites 8th grade families to discuss admissions, paying for college, and the transition to high school. Families have the opportunity to explore the campus and its academic offerings.

Cubs to Wildcats (AUSD, BUSD, FWUSD, MUSD, NUSD, SahUSD, SUSD, TUSD)
Current college students provide middle school students, parents, and educators with programming to ensure students are aware, eligible, and prepared for a college education.

Man Up And Go to College! (AUSD, BUSD, FWUSD, SUSD, TUSD)
A one-day conference inviting male high school students to The University of Arizona campus to focus on discussions of integrating college into students plans after high school.

Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) (Southern Region: AUSD, BUSD, FWUSD, NUSD, SahUSD, SCVUSD, SUSD, & TUSD; Central Region: Alhambra, Cartwright, Laveen, Liberty, Littleton, Peoria, Phoenix Union, Round Valley )
A national outreach program that helps 1,000 AZ college-bound students explore STEM fields through competitions where students utilize a simplified engineering design process (explore, design, test) to optimize performance.

Native American Science & Engineering Program (NASEP) (Statewide)
Native American students from across Arizona are invited to a comprehensive 1-week summer program that exposes students to sustainability and a variety of STEM majors & careers. Students are then engaged in a university-level research project and receive guidance in college admissions and the scholarship search process.

Padres Promotores (Expanding beyond SUSD)
Parents are empowered to take what they have learned in the College Academy for Parents program and to educate their own communities as they facilitate college preparation workshops for other peer parents in the K-12 system.

Start Now! Website and Marketing Initiatives (Statewide)
A website hosting information and videos that seek to demystify the complex processes of preparing, applying, and paying for college. A sister site provides the information in Spanish at empiezahoy.arizona.edu.

AUSD - Amphitheater, BUSD - Baboquivari, FWUSD - Flowing Wells, MUSD - Mara na, NUSD - Nogales, SahUSD - Sahuarita, SCVUSD ­ Santa Cruz Valley, SUSD - Sunnyside, TUSD - Tucson


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

There are a wide variety of scholarships available to students of the University of Arizona. Please contact the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid to learn more about scholarships.


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

The Office of Admissions has targeted outreach to local high schools. In addition to visits, the Office of Admissions offers a variety of Cultural College Planning Days on campus as well a programs titled, Road Trip, to ensure students of low income schools have access to campus visits. The Office of Admissions, and campus partners, conduct phone campaigns to low-income households to recruit students to attend the University of Arizona. First generation college students and low income students are the targeted groups for these efforts.

For more information please visit the Office of Admissions website (http://www.admissions.arizona.edu) or call 520-621-3237


A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

N/A


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:

Through the Office of Financial Aid as well as Scholarship Universe part-time student locate scholarships. Scholarships vary in size and amount.


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:

The University of Arizona partners with First Things First a local program that provides Child Care Scholarships. Additionally the University offers a Childcare and Housing Subsidy program as well as a Sick Child and Emergency Back-up Care program to students and employees so that class or work need not be missed.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

The UA Life and Work Connections offers many programs to help nontraditional students, especially those with children or care giving responsibilities. Another program that helps non traditional students is the Veterans Education and Transition Services program. The program works with veterans to ensure that they adjust civilian and university life smoothly and that they receive the attention and support they need to succeed.


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):
35

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
56

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):
58

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):
49

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):
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The UA department of Enrollment Management was able to provide data regarding the percentages of students in several categories, but has no data regarding the percentage of students directly participating or benefiting from UA policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students.

Latest update: July 2016


The UA department of Enrollment Management was able to provide data regarding the percentages of students in several categories, but has no data regarding the percentage of students directly participating or benefiting from UA policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students.

Latest update: July 2016

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.