Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.77
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Amherst
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.10 / 4.00 Ezra Small
Sustainability Manager
Physical Plant
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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 cost of attendance is based on enrollment, residency and housing, however, the campus has institutionally funded need based aid programs to assist students in covering educationally related costs.


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

As mentioned in previous entry all faculty and staff are given the opportunity to take part in Workplace Learning and Development programs that provide employees with the opportunity to improve their cultural competence and awareness of issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (including issues of socio-economic difference among students, faculty, and staff within departments and throughout the university).


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

To assist first generation and low-income students with transitioning from high school to the UMass Amherst campus, all Community Scholarship students are given the opportunity to participate in the school's Power Up For Success program, which provides a three-day orientation on navigating the university, study skills, resources the university provides for academic success and co-curricular and experiential programs. Students are also given the option to live in EPOCH, the all-freshmen residence hall.

In addition, UMass Amherst provides an academic support program specifically geared toward first generation college students through the Committee for the Collegiate Education of Black and Other Minority Students (CCEBMS, pronounced “SEBBS”).

CCEBMS was designed and developed in 1967 by a group of concerned Black faculty and staff members from the Five College area. The first CCEBMS class, in 1968, consisted of 125 black students. Over the years, thousands of 1st generation students from various ethnic and economic backgrounds, including white and nontraditional students, have completed their college education with the support of the CCEBMS program.

The program enhances the quality of student life in and outside the classroom, through planning, implementing, new innovative academic enrichment programs for students who are largely under-represented at the university. The program provides students with a welcoming and supportive environment that enables them to excel in their academics and complete their studies.


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

The campus has institutionally funded need based aid to assist low income student in paying for educational expenses. In addition, the campus participates in Federal Title IV and State financial aid programs.

The Amherst campus provides Community Scholarships to first generation and low-income students. This is an annual $5000 award renewable for four years. The flagship campus budgeted $1,140,000 dollars to support this program annually.


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

We visit most high schools in the state of Massachusetts, specifically in the cities of Boston, Lowell, Worcester, Springfield, Lawrence, and Holyoke, where many low-income students attend high school. Additionally, the Visitor’s Center hosts over 2,000 students each year that are participants in college preparatory programs such as Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Gear Up. These programs are typically for students from low-income families.


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

ANNOUNCED FEB 17, 2017: https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-joins-national-initiative
As part of UMass Amherst’s ongoing efforts to expand educational access and diversify its student body, the campus has joined the American Talent Initiative (ATI), an effort to substantially increase the number of talented low- and moderate-income students at the nation’s top-performing undergraduate institutions with the highest graduation rates.

Formed last year with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, ATI now numbers more than 50 public and private institutions. School leaders, including Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, will participate in an inaugural president roundtable on Feb. 22 in New York City. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, is scheduled to take part in the session.

By 2025 the members of the American Talent Initiative intend to attract, enroll and graduate 50,000 additional high-achieving, lower-income students at 270 colleges and universities with graduation rates of 70 percent or higher. According to the most recent federal data available, there are around 430,000 lower-income students enrolled at these 270 institutions. ATI intends to increase that number to 480,000 over the next decade.
Colleges and universities participating in ATI will further the national goal of developing more talent from every American neighborhood through:
-More robust recruitment of students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds
-Making need-based financial aid a priority
-Implementing proven practices to enroll and keep lower-income students that are admitted
-Minimizing or eliminating gaps in progression and graduation rates

During the meeting, the presidents will discuss a variety of topics, near- and long-term goals for ATI, the challenges related to increasing access and opportunity for lower-income students, researching issues of access and success and identifying solutions to address gaps in those areas for low-income students.
The initiative is co-managed by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program (www.aspeninstitute.org/college-excellence) and Ithaka S+R (www.sr.ithaka.org).


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:

As part of its commitment to increasing access to higher education, UMass Amherst offers dozens of scholarships each year. Check out the UMass Scholarship Search. It's a simple tool that helps match students with scholarships.

UWW scholarships for adult students:

UMass Amherst UWW also offers its own scholarships for adult students. Here are some of the $500-$2500 scholarships our students have the opportunity to apply for each semester. Please visit the UWW Student Center for upcoming deadlines and to apply.

Bonnie Lynn Scholarship Fund
This annual award is designated for a student enrolled in UWW who is in good academic standing and demonstrates financial need. In the spirit and memory of Bonnie Lynn, the individual awarded this scholarship for adult students will be someone who exhibits a strong determination in the pursuit of their goals, and who has succeeded in the face of adversity without having sacrificed their humor and compassion.

Chicopee Savings Bank Scholarship
Through a generous contribution from Chicopee Savings Bank, UWW awards this scholarship twice a year to a UWW student living in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire or Hampden counties in Massachusetts who is in good academic standing and demonstrates financial need.

David A. Cole Scholarship for Continuing & Professional Education and University Without Walls
This scholarship for adult students is for those enrolled in CPE and University Without Walls programs at UMass Amherst who are making career changes and who have financial need.

Edward J. Harris Lifelong Learning Fund
Named in honor of the founding director of UWW, this scholarship for adult students is awarded to someone enrolled in the University Without Walls who is in good academic standing and demonstrates financial need.

Jeffrey C. Taylor Educational Opportunity Fund
Established by and named after Jeffrey Taylor, UMass UWW alumnus and founder of Monster.com, this scholarship for adult students is awarded fall and spring semesters to a student enrolled in the University Without Walls who demonstrates financial need. Completed application and essay of no more than 750 words required.

Misty Catherine Bassi Memorial UWW Scholarship
In the spirit and memory of 2009 graduate Misty Bassi, this scholarship for adult students is awarded fall and spring semesters to a student enrolled in University Without Walls who demonstrates financial need and is in good academic standing.

UWW Faculty Student Scholarship Fund
Established to honor the dedication and passion of the UWW faculty, past and present, this scholarship is awarded fall and spring semesters to a student enrolled in the University Without Walls student who demonstrates financial need and is in good academic standing.


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:

Center for Early Education and Care

The Center for Early Education and Care (CEEC) has provided quality child care services to the University community for almost forty years. This tradition of service is one that we take great pride in and look forward to continuing for many more generations of UMass children and families.

CEEC provides high quality early childhood services for over 90 children from 15 months through five years of age. The Center is open from 7:30am—5:30pm Monday through Friday and offers full-day and flexible-schedule enrollment options on an academic and full-year calendar. The Center serves undergraduate and graduate student families, staff and faculty families, and families of the local community.

CEEC provides a model educational program based on developmentally appropriate practices which meet the licensing regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and the accreditation standards of the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs of NAEYC.

https://www.umass.edu/studentlife/ceec


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

University Without Walls

The University Without Walls (UWW) is an academic major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst designed to help adults complete their first bachelor's degree. The major was launched in 1971 and the average age of students is currently 37. UWW students design their own program of study, take courses in the format (online, blended, or on-campus) that their schedule can accommodate, and qualify for up to 105 credits for prior coursework, prior learning and work & life experience.
https://www.umass.edu/uww/
Veterans
Another group of non-traditional students that UMass Amherst actively supports is student veterans. Our Student Veterans Resource Center is open 9-5, Monday to Friday to answer questions, address concerns and assist veterans in navigating life in college. Military service and experience is credited towards college credit using the American Council on Education (ACE), CLEP, and DSST guidelines. The same standards are applied to credits for military education as those applied to coursework from accredited colleges and universities. UMass Amherst hosts a separate orientation for student veterans, offers a course for student veterans on transitioning to campus life and honing academic skills, and workshops on developing learning skills and career building.

https://www.umass.edu/veterans/


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):
20.70

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
71

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):
85.40

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):
32.50

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):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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.