University of Missouri
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Students with dependent children may apply for their childcare to be provided on campus. Students who travel more than 30 miles each way may apply for their transportation costs to be covered. Students may also apply for financial assistance in order to purchase a computer. The Missouri Student Association sponsors Tiger Pantry, a food assistance program for low income students and staff. The Missouri Student Association also sponsors Truman’s Closet, a program designed to help low income students and staff dress appropriately for job interviews. The University offers a wide variety of scholarships, grants, and awards. Most of these take financial need into account as indicated on the FAFSA. The University also offers student employment. MU employs students through regular part-time jobs and through the Federal Work Study Program. Jobs typically are 10 to 15 hours per week, with wages varying by position and skill level. The MU Office of Student Financial Aid is responsible for the initial awarding of Federal Work Study to eligible students. This opportunity is awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, have filled out the FAFSA, and indicate an interest in part time work.

The Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative provides free workshops and seminars for faculty and staff to instruct them on how to better serve students from a variety of diverse backgrounds, including low-income students. In addition, the Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative also provides many free interactive diversity enrichment activities for faculty and staff through their website. The Difficult Dialogues program assists faculty in discussing divisive topics in their classrooms while maintaining a respectful and nonthreatening atmosphere.

Academic Retention Services specifically concentrates of assisting low-income and minority students with the transition to college. The Learning Center provides tutoring and mentoring services for students with low income backgrounds who may need help with lower level math and science courses. The Mizzou Office for Financial Success is a nonprofit organization that provides a judgment free atmosphere to assist students from all backgrounds with financial planning, household management, and budget. Mizzou also takes part in the national program called Jumpstart. Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community Corps members to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Their proven curriculum helps children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be ready for kindergarten, setting them on a path to close the achievement gap before it is too late.

University of Missouri MOST (Missouri's 529 Saving Plan) Scholarship This scholarship is for qualifying students of families who have invested for college through MOST. Students must have financial need as determined by a standard of need applied against the FAFSA; applicants are selected according to their financial need. Gates Millennium Scholars Program The Gates Millennium Scholars program provides an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential. University of Missouri Grant This institutionally funded, need-based grant is awarded to students showing significant financial need. Award amounts, which range from $500 to $5,000, are based on need and hours enrolled. Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program This is a need-based program designed to be simple to understand, provide predictable, portable awards, and increase access to the school of choice. Eligibility is determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Parents are an integral part of the Mizzou family. The university recognizes the critical role they play and strives to create a positive partnership with them. The Office of Parent Relations serves as the primary liaison between the university and MU parents. This office plans, develops and implements specific programs and services designed to inform, educate and assist MU families.

The Missouri College Advising Corps (MCAC) hires recent MU graduates to work in 26 partner high schools across Missouri. These recent graduates help high school students in the application process, troubleshoot for them when they encounter obstacles and encourage them by believing in their ability to be successful in college. MCAC partner schools have high percentages of students who are the first in their families to attend college, low-income, or at risk of not going to college. MCAC college advisers help students choose colleges that best fit their interests and abilities (and the University of Missouri is one), navigate the process of applying for financial aid, and help them develop confidence to complete a college degree. The purpose of the Missouri College Advising Corps is: -To help Missouri students and their families see college as an attainable goal -To provide information about the college application and financial aid process to students and their families -To increase college enrollment and graduation among high-ability, low-income high school students -To encourage community college students to complete their associate’s degree and pursue a baccalaureate degree

The Mizzou Scholarship Fund helps pave the way to help many Mizzou students have access to the University of Missouri. Contributions to the Mizzou Scholarship Fund provide a direct means of making an immediate impact on students’ financial aid needs because the funds go directly to the MU Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office determines how to best use the scholarship funds to meet the needs of students. This fund helps meet the needs of the most capable, low-income students and encourages outstanding students to choose Mizzou over other colleges and universities.

Student aid is based on full-time enrollment, but part-time enrollment is often considered for eligibility.

The MU Child Development Lab (CDL) is an educational setting for community children, and a teaching and research laboratory for University of Missouri students, faculty and staff.The CDL is a full-day, full-year teacher-training lab school of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) within the College of Human Environmental Sciences (HES). The CDL is licensed and accredited. The CDL serves about 96 families with children from six weeks of age through Pre-K. Promoting high quality child care in a model setting is a primary goal.

The Osher Re-entry Scholarship endowment is a scholarship for non-traditional students who are admitted for their first baccalaureate degree and have experienced a cumulative five-year interruption in their studies. Adult students who commute more than 30 miles each way to attend MU classes may be eligible for transportation funding.