| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.30 |
| Liaison | Srinivasan Raghavan |
| Submission Date | Feb. 16, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Missouri
PA-7: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.85 / 4.00 |
Srinivasan
Raghavan Sustainability Manager Sustainability Office |
Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
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.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity 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, this office also provides many free interactive diversity enrichment activities for faculty and staff through their website.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
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.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
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.
MU 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).
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
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
A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
Student aid is based on full-time enrollment, but part-time enrollment is often considered for eligibility.
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 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.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Economic hardship
On a case-by-case basis, a financial aid adviser may review family changes after the FAFSA has been submitted with the previous year’s information. If a major change occurs in your financial situation, you may submit an appeal for our office to review your situation. Examples include:
Parent(s) or student recently unemployed
Parent(s) or student is receiving less pay
Parents or student has become separated or divorced
Death of parent or student’s spouse
Medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance
Private elementary or secondary school expenses
Unemployment benefits or untaxed income no longer received
IRA and 401K withdrawals
Other changes to a student’s status or to a student’s or family’s income or assets
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.
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
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):
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):
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:
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.