University of South Carolina
PA-7: Affordability and Access

In 2008, The Gamecock Guarantee Program (GGP) was created to provide financial and programmatic support for first-generation, low-income students from the state of South Carolina. This program is a collaborative effort that involves the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, and the Office of TRIO Programs. The goal of the GGP is to improve participation and graduation rates for these students, and the scholarship that students receive covers tuition and technology fees for four years (as long as the student continues to meet the program criteria). The Opportunity Scholars Program (OSP) offers smaller freshman classes taught by a team of instructors who are prepared to meet the needs of OSP students. Through this program, students can find and explore academic development opportunities including tutoring assistance, advising with academics and undergraduate research, study abroad opportunities, mentoring, workshops and cultural enrichment opportunities. Carolina Community Award is given to select underrepresented freshmen in the greater Columbia area, in collaboration with the 100 Black Men of Columbia, who present strong leadership and service to the community. The award is worth $1000 per year ($4000 value for four years). Low Income Application Fee Waivers are provided by the The Office of Admission to students who are eligible based on family income. The Raise.Me Partnership micro scholarships were started this year between the partnership of The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Raise.Me to students at 56 high schools through the state. The schools selected were those we identified as having a high proportion of underrepresented and low-income students. In addition to the scholarship, we conducted enhanced recruitment and marketing efforts at these schools. UofSC visits each of the Raise.Me high schools each year. 2. Opportunity Scholars Program The program encourages student success by creating a “small college” atmosphere that includes tutoring assistance, academic advising, guidance on undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities, mentoring, workshops and cultural enrichment opportunities. Low income, first generation students take freshman year courses as a cohort. Facts: 50% minority students 72% five-year graduation rate (2008 cohort) 95% freshman to sophomore retention rate for the past five years

CTE offers several workshops each semester that instructors can take to fulfill a Teaching Towards Inclusive Excellence Certificate. Some of these workshops provide guidance on how to best meet the needs of students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Upward Bound is a pre-college program for TRIO-eligible students attending high school in Richland County. It provides extensive academic support that includes weekend and evening activities, a six-week summer residential component, and college-placement services. The program serves 110 students from high schools in Richland School District One. The Upward Bound program helps students take advantage of the educational opportunities provided by their high schools and to realize their potential and meet their academic and career goals. Educational Talent Search (ETS) counselors work with high schools and middle schools in Richland County, providing students with grade-specific services that help them prepare for college. Services and activities, such as leadership conferences and college fairs for middle school students, cultural enrichment activities, college visits, and etiquette training for 8th grade students, are designed to encourage an interest in higher education. Beginning their work with students in the sixth grade, Educational Talent Search counselors work with students and their parents to encourage them to consider college, to ensure that they are enrolled in college preparatory high school courses, and to assist them in completing admissions and financial aid applications. Intensive Admissions Advising - Underrepresented students are often first in their families to attend college, and therefore benefit from advice on how to navigate and complete the admissions process. The Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion works with many of these students and provides reassurance and comfort along with wise counsel. Underrepresented students also are more likely to have incomplete applications and to abandon the application process. The Admissions office personally contacts underrepresented students if they are missing credentials, offering an extra measure of support. This contact improves the application completion rate of underrepresented students. College Application Days - The university actively supports and staffs the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education’s College Application Days, in which thousands of students from low-SES communities have access to a college admission advisor who serves as a resource and guide to the process of applying to college. This initiative helps promote a positive college-going culture throughout the State of South Carolina and seeks to demystify the college application process for our state’s most economically disadvantaged students. Summer Seniors -This summer recruitment program is designed for South Carolina’s top African-American rising high-school seniors. Admissions expanded this program in 2019 to two sessions in order to serve twice as many students (from 85 to 170). The four-day residential program provides a great opportunity to showcase the many benefits of attending the state’s flagship university. Program sessions include learning about the college admissions process, career planning, and financial aid basics. Select MOST members are hired and trained as campus counselors for Summer Seniors. Interactive peer sessions are also included to foster relationships and connections at Carolina. Other current students, faculty and staff are also invited to interact with Summer Seniors participants. They also remain in contact with each other and with the program counselors throughout their senior year. “Summer Seniors” has proven to be one of Admissions’ top yielding programs and we would like to expand this program to include even more students. To date, more than 900 students have participated in Summer Seniors and approximately 40% (390) of those have enrolled at UofSC. 35% minority students 72% of students in the program transferred from Midlands Tech to UofSC 70% graduation rate among minority student who matriculate through the program 2. Upward Bound is a pre-college program for TRIO-eligible students attending high school in Richland County. It provides extensive academic support that includes weekend and evening activities, a six-week summer residential component, and college-placement services. The program serves 110 students from high schools in Richland School District One. The Upward Bound program helps students take advantage of the educational opportunities provided by their high schools and to realize their potential and meet their academic and career goals.

They submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1. Their families' taxable income for the most recently completed tax year is not greater than 150% of the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. They are eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant.

The Gamecock Guarantee Program, Carolina Community Award, Low Income Application Fee Waivers, and Rais.Me Partnership. In addition to these scholarships, the University offers the Administration of State and Federal Aid. Students submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1. Their families' taxable income for the most recently completed tax year is not greater than 150% of the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. They are eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant.

Upward Bound is a pre-college program for TRIO-eligible students attending high school in Richland County. It provides extensive academic support that includes weekend and evening activities, a six-week summer residential component, and college-placement services. The program serves 110 students from high schools in Richland School District One. The Upward Bound program helps students take advantage of the educational opportunities provided by their high schools and to realize their potential and meet their academic and career goals. Educational Talent Search (ETS) counselors work with high schools and middle schools in Richland County, providing students with grade-specific services that help them prepare for college. Services and activities, such as leadership conferences and college fairs for middle school students, cultural enrichment activities, college visits, and etiquette training for 8th grade students, are designed to encourage an interest in higher education. Beginning their work with students in the sixth grade, ETS counselors work with students and their parents to encourage them to consider college, ensure they are enrolled in college preparatory high school courses, and assist them in completing admissions and financial aid applications. The Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion works with underrepresented students first in their families to attend college through the Intensive Admissions Advising program by advising on how to navigate the admissions process. This program provides reassurance and comfort along with wise counsel to students. These students also are more likely to have incomplete applications and abandon the process. The Admissions office personally contacts these students if they are missing credentials, offering an extra measure of support. The university actively supports and staffs the SC Commission on Higher Education’s College Application Days with the College Application Days program, in which thousands of students from low-SES communities have access to a college admission advisor who serves as a resource and guide to the process of applying to college. This initiative helps promote a positive college-going culture throughout the State of South Carolina and seeks to demystify the college application process for our state’s most economically disadvantaged students. Summer Seniors recruitment program is designed for SC’s top African-American rising high-school seniors. Admissions expanded the four-day residential program in 2019 to two sessions in order to serve twice as many students (from 85 to 170). The program provides a great opportunity to showcase the many benefits of attending the state’s flagship university. Program sessions include learning about the college admissions process, career planning, and financial aid basics. Select MOST members are hired and trained as campus counselors for Summer Senior to particiapte in interactive peer sessions along with other members of the campus community. This mentorship carries over into the student’s senior year. “Summer Seniors” has proven to be one of Admissions’ top yielding programs and we would like to expand this program to include even more students. To date, more than 900 students have participated in Summer Seniors and approximately 40% (390) of those have enrolled at UofSC.

The Statewide Bridge Program was designed to make transitions from SC technical colleges to the University as seamless as possible while increasing the success of transfer students once they’re enrolled at the Columbia campus. Participants receive support and advising from the University’s admissions office along with other benefits. A significant number of underrepresented students in SC transfer to the University. The bridge program increases the likelihood that students will be better prepared and ready to successfully join the Carolina community by the time they apply. The Gamecock Gateway program is a residential bridge program that was established in 2012 to enhance access to the university. The program fosters collaboration between UofSC and Midlands Technical College. This year, invitation-only program for first time college students requires students to complete their first 30 credit hours at Midlands Technical College while living on campus at the UofSC. It offers affordability, access, and the eventual opportunity to enroll at the UofSC.

University faculty, staff, and students receive discounted rates for children to attend the Carolina School.