| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.85 |
| Liaison | Ruairi O'Mahony |
| Submission Date | May 1, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Massachusetts Lowell
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.75 / 4.00 |
Thomas
Taylor Dean of Enrollment & Student Success Enrollment & Student Success |
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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:
UMass Lowell provides need-based student employment for qualifying students with financial aid work awards.
http://www.uml.edu/FinancialAid/employment/For-Students/About-For-Students.aspx
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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:
NA
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A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
• College Access Challenge Grant First Year Transition Program - The grant is housed and working under the Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services. The grant provides ongoing case management and support to students who are first generation, economically disadvantaged or otherwise in need of help, over their first year in college. The services will include case management, one-on-one meetings, ongoing contact through email, social media (texting, Facebook and twitter), facilitation of access to support services such as tutoring or counseling. These services are offered as resources to be sure students are submitting required information, registering for classes on time, completing FAFSA and other financial aid or scholarship forms, and integrating into the college through participation in activities.
http://www.uml.edu/CLASS/College-Access-Challenge-Grant.aspx
• Bottom Line – UMass Lowell partners with Bottom Line which works to address the low college graduation rates of at-risk urban youth. Bottom Line offers an Access Program which begins during a student’s junior/senior year of high school and provides them with a Bottom Line Counselor that helps them prepare a list of potential schools, write essays, complete applications, apply for financial aid, search for scholarships and select a suitable college. This is followed by the Success Program which provides guidance to students who enroll in commonly attended regional colleges. Transitional programming includes group workshops of college academics and culture, assistance with enrollment, housing, class registration, financial aid advising and general problem solving.
http://www.bottomline.org/
• Let’s Get Ready – UMass Lowell partners with Let’s Get Ready which works to address the inequalities and obstacles low-income students face in attaining a college education, empowering them to reach opportunity and success. Let’s Get Ready offers a 9-week SAT and College Preparation program as well as on-going workshops and other support services focusing on such topics as career exploration, completion of financial aid forms, application essays, successful transitions to college life and more are offered throughout the year.
http://www.letsgetready.org/
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A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
A variety of need-based scholarships are offered to low-income students, as demonstrated by this website: http://www.uml.edu/FinancialAid/scholarships/default.aspx
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A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
UMass Lowell Parent Programs hosts Parent/Family Orientation sessions throughout the summer and January. Parents and Families are able to meet with staff from across the university to learn how to best support their students. Financial Aid plays a critical role during the orientation sessions.
UMass Lowell also participates in regional outreach programs to help families complete the FAFSA and will be hosting the regional even in 2015 at UMass Lowell.
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A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
NA
None
A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
NA
None
A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
NA
None
A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:
NA
None
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 following is a list of scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
Continuing Education Deans Scholarship
Leo F. King Scholarship
Professor Bernard and Diana Shapiro Scholarship
ASL Adult Education Scholarships
Veterans Online and Off-Campus Scholarship
http://continuinged.uml.edu/general/scholarships.cfm
The majority of non-traditional students at UMass Lowell are transfer students. UMass Lowell recently increased its financial aid targeted toward transfer students by over $1 million in 2014 with a goal to meet a minimum of 85% need of all transfer students.
None
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:
NA
None
A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
The Office of Residence Life worked with several faculty and staff including the advisor to the Navigators student group to create a 12-month housing option. For non-traditional students, students without families, or students who prefer not to go home for breaks, this option allows them to select an apartment-style suite for a full calendar year. Students who select a 12-month option do not have the stress of figuring out where they will live for winter break, summer break, etc. Also, the 12-month option does not require students to have a meal plan – giving them the flexibility and money to plan their own meals.
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Yes
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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 | 33 |
| The graduation/success rate for low-income students | 52 |
| The percentage of student financial need met, on average | 90 |
| The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt | 0 |
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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.