University of Mount Union
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Mount Union believes that no student should fail to apply for admission to the University purely for financial reasons. About 79.8% of our undergraduate students receive some financial assistance based on demonstrated need. The University also allocates institutional funds to be offered to students as merit-based awards. In 2013-2014, Mount Union undergraduate students received financial aid in excess of $56,175,594. More than $ 26,138,562 of that total was awarded in the form of institutional grants or scholarships.

Student Affairs has an entire office (The Center for Student Success) that provides a wide variety of services to students in academic need, and they do (through Admissions) create a profile for each student that helps to predict academic success. (They can tell you more about the approaches to help “fragile freshmen.”) But to my knowledge, there are no programs specifically designed to target non-traditional or low-income students. The Center established a ‘Success Coach’ program for minority and at risk students. Center staff meet with select students on a bi weekly basis and facilitate time management, study strategies, and accountability issues. We also assist them with finding their major, resume construction, and job search skills and strategies. The students complete a learning style assessment and tips for academic success. We(the student and coach) keep a handbook to track improvement and meeting notes. Career Development also facilitates career and job search processes for non-traditional students and alumni. We participate in job fairs (My Workster) just for seasoned alumni.

With funds from the Bremer Foundation, Mount Union began the Great Expectations Program in 1995. This program involves identifying a cohort of middle school students from Youngstown OH to participate in Early Intervention Programming continuing to the end of their high school career. The focus is to prepare students from low income backgrounds for higher education. Programming, which continues through the generous support of the Marion G. Resch Foundation, includes a summer enrichment camp, regular visits with the students in the hs setting, and weekend sessions focusing on academic enrichment, cultural experiences, critical thinking, personal development, ACT prep, career exploration, college preparation and community service. The Great Expectations Program is currently with our fifth cohort of students. The Dowling Mentor Program The program is nearly 30 years old and was founding in honor of Robert Dowling who was a teacher in Alliance. We focus on mentoring students in grades 7-12 at Alliance High School. The students are chosen by the principal and guidance counselors and spend one on one time with a Mount Union student and participate in monthly group outings.

We have recently partnered with Alliance City School District and are in the inaugural year of the Investment Alliance scholarship program. Beginning with the May 2014 graduating class of Alliance High School, the top fifteen ranked students will be offered full tuition to Mount Union. This community collaboration is intended to prevent brain drain and offer our brightest local students the opportunity to attend Mount Union without concern about financial constraint. We also continue our long-standing commitment to the Minority Achievement Award Competition which supports our diversity and access initiatives. Annually, students compete for scholarships ranging from $ 3,000 to $ 14,000 per year. The traditional program involves a campus-based interview and essay but our approach is flexible enough to permit phone based interviewing when a visit to campus is cost prohibitive.

Admission and Student Financial Services has programs in place to guide parents through the admission and financial aid experience including one called "College Knowledge," which is only for parents. While our programs are not solely for parents of low-income students, it is critical that we design these programs with those parents in mind, as well as with first generation families in mind. We also proactively drive our parents of admitted students to scheduled appointments with financial aid staff to review financial aid awards and we do so by reaching out, literally, to every parent of an admitted student. We present this as a normal step in the college-going process with the intent of eliminating barriers because families without a college-going history are often hesitant or embarrassed to ask questions. We also offer extended office hours and established Saturday hours during peek seasons in order to accommodate parents whose work situations do not allow for conversation during our traditional business hours. Most importantly, we have a robust and proactive system in place to conduct after-hours telephone appointments in order to alleviate travel costs and accommodating working parents from all walks of life. Preview for Parents We don’t have programs specifically for parents of low-income students. However, we do offer a family program at Preview, and at that we introduce them to many resources on campus. We do this throughout the weekend, but also specifically during the University 101 sessions designed to introduce them to various offices on campus.

Our admission efforts include the funding of targeted groups of students from designated urban high school settings in an effort to increase access and diversity. We visit high schools in urban centers as standard practice within our admission travel season. We participate in a variety of college access fairs and events that are specifically designed to increase college going rates among low income and underrepresented students. We allocate a specific portion of our budget to fund groups for college-exposure visits. We also have an admission representative position on our staff which is titled "Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment" in order to build access efforts as well.

There is no fee to apply for admission to Mount Union. Additionally, our deposit is not due until May 1 but should a student deposit prior to that time, it is fully refundable until May 1. This is important as it leaves time for students to see financial aid packages from other institutions with the most flexibility and without cost to them. Mount Union also participates with four Stark County partner schools in offering dual credit coursework to students still in high school. We currently offer pre calc, Calc I, Colonial American History and Western Civ. These students are able to earn Mount Union credits while in high school and those credits can be used here or at any institution which accepts college transfer credit.

In addition to need-based financial aid, there are two programs in place to assist students with financial obstacles and help to promote academic success. First, students have the opportunity to obtain interest-free book loans to aid with purchase of textbooks and other class materials. The loans are expected to be repaid prior to the end of the semester in which those monies are allocated—however, if students are unable to repay within such time schedule, then the loan balance is added to their student account. Secondly, on an individual basis, students have the potential to obtain emergency personal loans to help deal with crises and unexpected needs in their lives. As with book loans, emergency loans are repayable or can be added to student account.

Institutional scholarships for part time students are limited to the Mount Union dollars provided through the Yellow Ribbon Program to veterans or veteran dependents.

None

At the University of Mount Union, we endeavor to work with students individually to help address challenges and needs. Due to the lack of “critical mass” of non-traditional students, we do not have specific offices or programs designated to serve that population. However, such individual needs and provisions are handled through the Office of Student Affairs.

Answers compiled from Pat Heddleston, Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer; Amy Tomko, Vice President for Enrollment Services; Bill Cunion, Associate Academic Dean for Curriculum and Student Academic Issues, Associate Professor, Political Science; Abby Honaker, Assistant Director, Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement; Jessie Douglas, Director of Exceptional Beginnings/First Year Programs; Rebecca Doak, Executive Director, Center for Student Success and Career Development, Lecturer, Economics, Accounting & Business Administration; and Debbie Fink Student Affairs Executive Assistant Entered by Leah Graham