Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.21
Liaison Olivia Wiebe
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Idaho
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.37 / 4.00 Jeannie L. Matheison
Director
Sustainability Center
"---" 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:

There is no admission application fee for prospective students who are Idaho residents, or for TRIO students applying to the University of Idaho. In addition, the Office of the Dean of Students has developed a fee structure which will allow all low-income students the opportunity to attend New Student Orientation by waiving or reducing the $100 fee.

Federal Pre-College TRIO Programs
In 1968, the University of Idaho became one of the first institutions in the nation to operate an Upward Bound program. The Upward Bound program is one of six programs being operated at the University of Idaho through the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences that are referred to as TRIO Programs. In support of a commitment to providing an educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic status, Congress established a series of programs (TRIO) to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic social life. Funding originally emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and has been expanded to serve 2,800 TRIO projects across the U.S. and nearly 800,000 low-income Americans. TRIO programs have been consistently funded at the UI since its inception.

Our programs include:
-Educational Talent Search
-Educational Opportunity Center
-Silver Valley Upward Bound
-STEM Access
-McNair Achievement
-Nations Upward Bound
-Bridge Idaho


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

Specific to low-income students we are unaware of a sustained effort to equip faculty and staff with the skill necessary to serve low-income students; however, UI offers a Diversity and Social Stratification Certification for faculty, staff, students and community members.

For more information on the certificate, visit the Department of Sociology and Anthropology website at: https://www.uidaho.edu/class/soc-anthro/certificates/diversity-and-stratification


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

In 1968, the University of Idaho became one of the first institutions in the nation to operate an Upward Bound program. The Upward Bound program is one of six programs being operated at the University of Idaho through the College of Education that are referred to as TRIO Programs.

In support of a commitment to providing an educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic status, Congress established a series of programs (TRIO) to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic social life. Funding originally emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and has been expanded to serve 2,800 TRIO projects across the U.S. and nearly 800,000 low-income Americans. TRIO programs have been consistently funded at the UI since its inception.


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

In 2017-2018, the university provided over $25 million in institutional scholarships and grants to students. Of those funds, $9.2 million went to students who had demonstrated need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. Scholarships are available for students in all academic areas. The scholarship program is designed to assure students with need receive the same scholarship amounts for all 4 years, allowing them to plan financing to a degree.


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

TRIO actively recruits low-income students into higher education. TRIO programs include: Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center, Silver Valley Upward Bound, STEM Access, Nations Upward Bound, and Bridge Idaho. In addition, CAMP works to recruit and helps to transition migrant workers and the children of migrant workers into college.


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

Funding from a Department of Education grant enables Student Support Services, TRIO staff and faculty to provide low-income students with personal support. The grant serves 232 students with disabilities, limited-income, first generation, independent from foster care, orphaned, wards or formerly homeless students. In order to eligible for SSS/TRIO students need to be full time and intending to graduate from U of I.


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 University of Idaho has a small percentage of students that are part-time. Most scholarships do require full-time enrollment unless prevented by an established disability preventing them from attending full time.

Scholarships allowing part-time enrollment including the George Warren Scholarship, the Operation Education Scholarship, and the Veterans Nonresident Tuition Waiver Scholarship.


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 Idaho Children's Center supports student, faculty, staff, alumni and community families by providing flexible and affordable quality child care services. This is enhanced by the program being one of twenty-five Idaho child care centers accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The program is also licensed by the State of Idaho. The Children’s Center offers all full-time UI non-traditional student families a discounted tuition rate for each child that attends for the reason that fees are subsidized by the Associated Students of the University of Idaho. Families that qualify, also have access to the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) which provides child care assistance to low-income families that are working or attending school by paying a portion of their child care costs.


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

n/a


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):
64

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
49.10

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):
79.10

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):
45

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:

Part 1:
Scott Clyde Director, TRiO Pre-College Projects
Jacqueline Brandow, Manager Student Support Services-TRiO
Dan Davenport Director, Student Financial Aid Services
Angela O’Connell Director, Children’s Center

Part 2:
Christine Lighty Associate Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation
Dan Davenport Director of Student Financial Aid Services


Part 1:
Scott Clyde Director, TRiO Pre-College Projects
Jacqueline Brandow, Manager Student Support Services-TRiO
Dan Davenport Director, Student Financial Aid Services
Angela O’Connell Director, Children’s Center

Part 2:
Christine Lighty Associate Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation
Dan Davenport Director of Student Financial Aid Services

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.