University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

The University funds three TRIO programs jointly with the College of Education and Human Development and the US Department of Education. These include Upward Bound, Access to Success, and the Ronald E. McNair Program. Upward Bound is a college preparatory program for low-income and educationally disadvantaged high school students to help generate the skills they need to succeed in post secondary education. TRIO Access to Success is a program for 150 selected freshmen who demonstrate strong potential to succeed academically at the University of Minnesota, but whose high school records may not match the typical profile of students admitted to the University. The Ronald E. McNair Program prepares low-income, first-generation college students for graduate study. Services to program participants include academic counseling, tutoring, test preparation for the Graduate Record Exam, paid research internships, advocacy, assistance in applying to graduate schools, and seminars to help prepare for graduate study. http://www.cehd.umn.edu/trio/

The Regent's policy on financial aid guides the University in awarding financial aid. Subdivision 1 states: Guiding Principles. In the conduct of its student financial aid programs, the University shall: (a) award financial aid to students on the basis of merit and of need; (b) assist as many students as possible in securing grants, scholarships, loans, and employment and provide counseling in the use of such resources to help finance their education; (c) aggressively seek additional aid funds; and (d) maintain straightforward application and disbursement processes that protect the individual's right to privacy. http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/administrative/Student_Financial_Aid.pdf

TRIO Upward Bound is a college preparatory program for low-income and educationally disadvantaged high school students. TRIO Upward Bound works with students on a long-term and intensive basis and helps generate the skills needed for selected high school students to succeed in post-secondary education.

The University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship (U Promise) is the University of Minnesota's guaranteed commitment to Minnesota undergraduate students whose families make up to $100,000 per year. There are two types of scholarships under the U Promise umbrella: the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship, and the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship that provide assistance to low-income students. http://upromise.umn.edu/ The University also provides many other scholarships which base their selection on financial need.

The University's Parent Program works with parents to help them understand the student experience, support student learning, and empower students to take personal responsibility for their social and academic choices. This program provides information about health and safety, transportation, financial matters, academics, and student career planning. The Parent Program is open to all University parents to assist in their transition; there is no program specifically for parents of low-income students. http://www.parent.umn.edu/

When Office of Admissions counselors visit high schools, although they visit schools across the state of Minnesota annually, they target high schools with significant enrollments of students participating in the federal free lunch program to ensure that these populations of students receive information about the University, the application process, and financial aid. Additionally, counselors encourage students to apply for financial aid at Visit Presentations, Application Workshops, and at numerous Admitted Student events. The Office of Admissions also collaborates with One Stop Student services to offer financial aid information sessions to students and families regarding how to pay for college. Finally, the University participates in College Goal Sunday, a national event that provides free, on-site professional assistance in completing the FAFSA.