Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.75
Liaison Mark Klapatch-Mathias
Submission Date May 1, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.61 / 4.00 Andriel Dees
Chief Diversity Officer
Chancellor's Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

UWRF is fortunate to have a very strong TRIO program. Included here is an overview of the services and programs, along with the website for more information. Several of the programs, most notably in the Student Support Services (SSS) offer scholarships or grants to provide better access for low-income students and others.

Campus Tutoring
Campus Tutoring provides tutoring using study groups for most classes. Help Rooms are available for math, chemistry, physics, agricultural, writing, and English Language Transition (ELT)
For more information, e-mail: Tutoring@uwrf.edu

McNair Scholars Program--TRIO
McNair Scholars Program assists first generation, low income, or groups under-represented in doctoral studies to pursue a doctoral degree.
Director of McNair Scholars: Dr. Louis Porter II

Pre-Major Program
Pre-Major Advising provides advising to students who have not declared a major.
Pre-major Advisor: Daniel Rivera

Student Support Services (SSS)--TRIO
Student Support Services Scholars Program provides support to assist students that qualify under federal guidelines to transition to college and graduate in a timely fashion.
For More information, e-mail SSS@uwrf.edu

Upward Bound Program - TRIO
Upward Bound (UB) is a federally funded college preparatory program that generates in our participants the skills and motivations necessary to complete a program of secondary education, and succeed in a program of post-secondary education.
Director of Upward Bound: Bee.Vang@uwrf.edu 715-425-3256

http://www.uwrf.edu/AcademicSuccess/


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

Please refer to our Financial Aid Website:
http://www.uwrf.edu/FinancialAid/


A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

The Student Support Services (SSS) Program is a TRIO Program funded by the US Department of Education. It is designed to assist first generation, low-income, and/or students with disabilities in pursuit of a college degree. The program has significantly increased the retention rates for students that enter UWRF with high risk academic
factors, up to and through graduation.


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

The UW System administers the Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant Program. This program began in the 1986-87 academic year, and provides need-based assistance to African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indiana, and statutorily defined Southeast Asian American students who are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Eligible students may be sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are Wisconsin residents or
Minnesota Reciprocity students.


A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:

University of Wisconsin River Falls Department of New Student and Family Programs is committed to providing new students and their families with the information, resources, and support that is needed during the transition to and through the college experience. Specifically, New Student and Family Programs partners with many programs including the abovementioned Student Support Services (SSS) to provide guidance to low-income and/or first generation families to onboard and navigate through the higher education experience.


A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

University of Wisconsin River Falls is dedicated to providing equity and access to higher education. We have resources and personnel in our Office of Admissions dedicated to Multicultural Outreach. More information may be found at:
http://www.uwrf.edu/Admissions/multicultural.cfm

In addition, University of Wisconsin River Falls has a thriving Upward Bound Program. More information can be found at: http://www.uwrf.edu/AcademicSuccess/Upward-Bound.cfm


A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

Please refer to our Admissions Page link:
http://www.uwrf.edu/Admissions/


A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

Please refer to our Financial Aid Page link:
http://www.uwrf.edu/FinancialAid/


A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:

The McNair Scholars Program is a Post baccalaureate Achievement program designed to prepare first-generation, low-income or traditionally underrepresented undergraduate students to become scholars with PhDs. The program is open to University of Wisconsin River Falls students who have completed their sophomore year with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who are academically motivated and committed to pursuing a PhD. More information may be found at the following link: http://www.uwrf.edu/AcademicSuccess/McNair-Scholars-Program.cfm


Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

---There are many scholarships for enrolled students, both full-time and part-time, traditional and nontraditional. More information here: http://www.uwrf.edu/FinancialAid/TypesOfAid/UWRFScholarships.cfm


A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

C.H.I.L.D. Center:

It is the intention of The CHILD Center to provide quality care to the children of students, faculty/staff and to the community at a reasonable cost. The center also serves as a fieldwork site for programs including but not limited to Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Communicative Disorders, Social Work, Counseling and School Psychology. We believe that children learn through active interaction with their environment, peers and nurturing caregivers, recognizing the individual needs and nature of each child.

http://www.uwrf.edu/ChildCare/


A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Yes

Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
Percentage (0-100)
The percentage of entering students that are low-income 34
The graduation/success rate for low-income students 35
The percentage of student financial need met, on average 70
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt 22

The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
37

The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Pathway to Distinction:
We commit to a community of mutual respect, professional behavior, academic freedom and appreciation of individual differences and rich cultural diversity.
https://www.uwrf.edu/PathwayToDistinction/MissionVisionCoreValues.cfm
https://www.uwrf.edu/PathwayToDistinction/Initiatives/Index.cfm

The graduation/success rate for low-income students comes from the UW-River Falls Accountability Report for 2012-13, Core Strategy #2: Stronger Work Force-Closing the Equity Gap
http://www.wisconsin.edu/opar/accountability/kpwf1213/instacct.htm

Additional contributors:
Kris Anderson
Barbara Stinson


Pathway to Distinction:
We commit to a community of mutual respect, professional behavior, academic freedom and appreciation of individual differences and rich cultural diversity.
https://www.uwrf.edu/PathwayToDistinction/MissionVisionCoreValues.cfm
https://www.uwrf.edu/PathwayToDistinction/Initiatives/Index.cfm

The graduation/success rate for low-income students comes from the UW-River Falls Accountability Report for 2012-13, Core Strategy #2: Stronger Work Force-Closing the Equity Gap
http://www.wisconsin.edu/opar/accountability/kpwf1213/instacct.htm

Additional contributors:
Kris Anderson
Barbara Stinson

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.