Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.83
Liaison Parker Long
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Virginia Commonwealth University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.79 / 4.00 Joseph Costa
Sustainability Projects and Program Coordinator
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs 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:

VCU offers a range of financial aid options including work-study jobs, grants, installment payment plans, loans, scholarships, and veteran benefits for low-income students.


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

The VCU Office of Financial Aid offers a video series with information for future undergraduates, current undergraduates, graduate students, parents, and alumni that cover topics ranging from the financial aid application process, award types, and repayment.


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

VCU offers several scholarship options. In addition, individual departments offer offer need-based scholarships including Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Nursing, Social Work, and Study Abroad, as well as others. https://finaid.vcu.edu/types/scholarships/


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

Our Pathways to Success program is a college preparation series designed to share information with Richmond public high school students about the college selection process that will help them gain a better understanding of the opportunities available at VCU and other institutions of higher education. The program is held twice during an academic year, once in the fall and again in the spring.

We also host a program for Latino high school students and their families entitled Primeros Pasos or First Steps. It is a one-day program designed to motivate and encourage Latino high school students to attend college.

In addition to these programs we also host and welcome campus visit by various outreach organizations, including Project Discovery, AVID and Gear Up. Furthermore, we have established a partnership with the Center for Student Opportunity (CSO), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting higher education opportunities for first-generation and other undeserved college-bound students.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

While VCU does not offer scholarships specifically for part-time students we do have a National Scholarship Office where students can learn about and apply to scholarships outside of VCU that may be applicable to part-time students.


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 VCU Child Development Center is a full-day, inclusive young children's program which provides high-quality care and education for the children of VCU faculty, staff, and student families. The Center's unique relationship with the School of Education allows it to serve as a learning lab for student pre-service experiences, faculty research, and community outreach and education.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

Financial counseling is available for all students, full or part time. https://finaid.vcu.edu/


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
Yes

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
29

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
58.60

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):
52.52

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):
39.20

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):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

https://opds.vcu.edu/eaar/facts-and-figures/data_sets/

Data was calculated from section h2 of VCU's common data set


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.