University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Upward Bound (Office of the Provost) – The Upward Bound program serves 90 high school students, primarily from low income and potential first generation college student homes. Students must attend target schools in Chatham, Durham, Lee, and Orange Counties. They must meet federal guidelines based on income and/or educational background of parents, must have a need for academic support, and must be US citizens. Upward Bound parents are organized into associations that provide assistance to program participants, serve as a support group of program parents, serve as a community ambassador and recruiter of students, and provide advocacy for Upward Bound and other TRIO programs. Two scholarships are available to Upward Bound participants: Ernest K. Dark, Sr., Upward Bound Scholarship – Presented annually to a graduate of the Upward Bound Program with outstanding scholarship, service, citizenship, and leadership. The amount of the scholarship is from $500 to $1,000 annually. Allard K. Lowenstein Scholarship – Awarded annually to students attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a preference to students who have participated in the Upward Bound Program. The award is based on the students’ potential for contribution to the University through academics, athletics, and activities as judged by performance in high school and the community. http://www.unc.edu/depts/ed/upward_bound/whatis/index.htm

Carolina Covenant (through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid) – The Carolina Covenant is a pledge made by the University to low-income youth. It promises that students who quality for the Covenant will have the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree at Carolina without having to borrow to meet their financial need. Eligible students (designated as Covenant Scholars) are awarded a combination of grants, scholarships, and/or work-study that meets 100 percent of their financial need. Together with the amount the family is expected to pay, this combination of financial aid allows Scholars who work 10-12 hours per week during the academic year to graduate debt-free. The Covenant also incorporates academic and personal support services and special programming to help Covenant Scholars adapt to campus life and succeed in completing their undergraduate degree program. By making this Covenant, the University hopes to encourage youth from low-income families who want to attend Carolina to prepare academically for admission, knowing they can afford to attend. The Carolina Covenant is directed to students from historically low-income families, as opposed to those whose parents may have had a low income the prior year, but who have assets or other resources to help pay for college costs. Parents’ adjusted gross income must not exceed 200% of federal poverty guidelines, based on family size. Students must be dependent on parents, and must meet academic, income, and financial need criteria. North Carolina residency is not required. Students must meet citizenship requirements and other eligibility standards for federal financial aid programs. A student may be designated as a Covenant Scholar when admitted to Carolina as a freshman or transfer student. http://www.unc.edu/carolinacovenant/index.php

Carolina Covenant Scholars are matched with faculty or professional staff mentors, who are paid a small stipend, to mentor Covenant Scholars during their first year at Carolina. The mentors commit to supporting a small group of Scholars in their daily lives and to helping them discover and participate in campus life. The goal is successful students who graduate. Each year, some 35 mentors, attend a training session before meeting with their Scholars, work with up to 15 Scholars each, meet with Scholars individually, and host social activities for the students in their group. http://www.unc.edu/carolinacovenant/faculty-mentoring.php

Project Uplift (sponsored by Diversity and Multicultural Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions) – Low-income, rural, and other rising seniors from historically underserved populations who are in the top 25% of their classes spend two days on campus for a general introduction to student life. Students attend classes, talk with professors, attend demonstration lectures and science labs, and learn about admissions procedures and financial aid. During May and June, approximately 1,000 rising high school seniors and other secondary students participate. http://www.unc.edu/diversity/aboutpu.htm NC Renaissance (sponsored by Diversity and Multicultural Affairs in conjunction with North Carolina Renaissance) – NC Renaissance is a one-week enrichment program for rural high school sophomores to participate in sessions exploring team building, college admissions, financial aid, the Ackland Art Museum, and community service. http://www.unc.edu/diversity/renaissance.htm

James M. Johnston Awards (Office of Scholarships and Student Aid) – The Johnston Awards are need-based scholarships. Every year, approximately 70 entering freshman are chosen to be Johnston Scholars, based on outstanding high school records and leadership potential. Faculty mentors, Johnston honors seminars, and special leadership activities are included as part of the program. Johnston scholarships are renewable, provided the recipients achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in their freshman year and 3.0 each year thereafter. The scholarship also covers additional expenses associated with UNC-sponsored Study Abroad programs. http://studentaid.unc.edu/studentaid/type/ssa_grants_scholarships.html Undergraduates entering the School of Nursing as juniors and first-year graduate nursing students are eligible for Johnston Nursing Awards, a special focus of the Johnston program. This year, UNC awarded more than $378,000 to entering first-year students, more than $43,000 to undergraduate nursing students, and $96,000 to graduate nursing students for a total of more than $517,000 in new Johnston Scholarships. Awards for new and returning Johnston Scholars totaled more than $1.7 million.

High School Honors Day (Diversity and Multicultural Affairs) – Academically talented high school students from low-income, rural, or other historically underserved populations and their parents gain first-hand knowledge from University officials and student leaders about academic programs, admissions requirements, and scholarship and grant opportunities. http://www.unc.edu/diversity/hshd.htm UNC Scholars Day (Diversity and Multicultural Affairs) – High achieving seniors interested in attending Carolina and their parents visit the University and participate in informational meetings to learn about academic and cultural opportunities from Undergraduate Admissions, Scholarships and Student Aid, Honors Program, Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad, student leaders, and academic departments. http://www.unc.edu/diversity/scholardays.htm

Tar Heel Target (Diversity and Multicultural Affairs) – Minority student recruitment volunteers visit their hometown high schools during Carolina’s fall break and meet with prospective students in various locations around North Carolina and a few specifically selected schools out of state. http://www.unc.edu/diversity/tarheeltarget.htm

Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP)- With the help of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the University launched C-STEP to enable more community-college students to transfer to and graduate from Carolina. Talented low- and moderate-income high school students are guaranteed eventual admission to Carolina if they enroll at one of five local community colleges -- Alamance Community College, Carteret Community College, Durham Technical Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, or Wake Technical Community College -- and complete the program successfully. Students who are invited to participate in C-STEP agree to earn appropriate associate degrees and participate actively in the program. C-STEP offers students special events and advising, both at their home college and at Carolina, while they are pursuing their associate degrees, and provides exemplary transition and support services once they have enrolled at Carolina and are pursuing their bachelor degrees. Carolina guarantees to meet 100 percent of every admitted student's demonstrated need through grants, scholarships and loans. Qualified C-STEP students will be offered the opportunity to enroll as Carolina Covenant scholars. http://admissions.unc.edu/CSTEP/

Each year the University offers special scholarships to a select group of entering freshmen. These competitive awards recognize and encourage academic excellence. Criteria for merit-based scholarships include academic achievement, leadership qualities, commitment to service, and potential for success at the University. Financial need is not a consideration. The University seeks to identify students who have earned academic distinction in high school, but selection goes beyond metrics of test scores and grade point averages, focusing on a holistic review of the entire application. Types of Merit-Based Scholarships available through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid: The Morehead-Cain Scholarship, launched in 1945, was the first merit based scholarship program offered in the United States. Selected students receive full tuition, fees, and board as well as a laptop and books. A four-year Summer Enrichment Program, made up of diverse, customized experiences that begin the summer before freshman year, include outdoor leadership, public service, international research, private enterprise, and Discovery Funds to be used for education opportunities. In 2010, 64 Morehead Scholars were selected: 30 from North Carolina, 24 from other areas in the United States, 2 from Uganda, 2 from Turkey, 3 from Britain, and 3 from Canada. http://moreheadcain.org/about/ The Robertson Scholars Program, created in 2000, selects students with the personal drive to have an impact on the world around them. It provides full student privileges and covers all fees at both UNC and Duke University, three unique summer experiences, a laptop, and individual mentoring and coaching. About half the students enroll at Duke and half at UNC. All the students take courses at both schools and spend a semester in residence at the other campus. An average of 36 students, from all over the world, are selected for the program each year. http://www.robertsonscholars.org/ The Carolina Scholars Awards Program represents the most academically competitive of scholarships sponsored by the University. In addition to superior academic achievement, self-direction and motivation for learning are the chief criteria for selection. Carolina Scholarships are part of UNC’s Scholars Program, which provides recipients with faculty mentors, leadership experience, and other academic enrichment opportunities. Recipients from North Carolina receive renewable awards of $8,000 per year; those from out-of-state will receive an award equivalent to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board. Pogue Scholarships place special emphasis on minority applicants who, in addition to solid academic performance and strong leadership potential, demonstrate an abiding commitment to their local communities and embrace diversity as a value. Competition for this award is open to North Carolina and out-of-state students. The Pogue Scholarship provides a renewable award of $7,500 for N.C. recipients and an amount covering the cost of tuition, fees, room and board for non-resident recipients. The Pogue Scholarship is part of UNC’s Scholars Program, which provides faculty mentoring, leadership experience and other enrichment opportunities. http://studentaid.unc.edu/studentaid/type/ssa_scholarships.html#pogue Colonel Robinson Scholarships provide renewable awards to students who exhibit high academic achievement and potential for leadership at the University. For N.C. recipients, these competitive scholarships provide a $5,000 award. Out-of-state recipients receive the equivalent of tuition, fees, room and board. Colonel Robinson Scholars are invited to participate in activities sponsored by the Scholars Program. Old Well and Founders Scholarships provide renewable awards of at least $3,000 to students from North Carolina who come to the University with an exemplary academic record. Additional criteria for these awards may include county of residence and high school attended. College Fellows Scholarships provide renewable awards of $2,500 to high-achieving students from North Carolina. College-Sponsored National Merit Awards are annual awards of $1,000 (or $2,000 in the case of substantial financial need) to National Merit finalists who have not been offered another type of National Merit award and have notified the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that UNC-Chapel Hill is their first college choice. Recipients of National Merit’s one-time $2,500 Merit Scholarship will be eligible to receive the annual $1,000 college-sponsored award after their freshman year. http://studentaid.unc.edu/studentaid/type/ssa_scholarships.html

The Burch Fellows Program was established in 1993 by a gift from Carolina alumnus Lucius E. Burch III. Its purpose is to recognize undergraduate students at the University who possess extraordinary ability, promise, and imagination. It grants up to $6,000 to support self-designed, off-campus experiences that will enable students to pursue a passionate interest in a way and to a degree not otherwise possible. Any full-time undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may apply, provided that, at the time of application, he or she has completed at least one but not more than six semesters. Regardless of a student's official class standing, it is the expectation of the Program that a student will complete two additional semesters at UNC following completion of the Burch Fellowship experience and prior to graduation. http://www.burchfellows.unc.edu/