Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.88
Liaison Dedee DeLongpre Johnston
Submission Date June 3, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Wake Forest University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.10 / 4.00 Barbee Oakes
Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
Office of the Provost
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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:

Wake Forest provides several programs to ensure accessibility and affordability for low-income students including: (a) need-based financial aid to ensure that students from families with an annual income of $40,000 or less are guaranteed to have $4,000 or less in student loans in their financial aid package annually; (b) the Magnolia Scholars Program, which provides mentorship, advising, and merit aid annually for 30 first generation students from low-income families (income less than $40,000 annually); and (c) the Merit Supplemental Scholarship provides financial support for academically gifted students from a variety of groups.


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

The Office of Academic Advising employs academic counselors who steer students through their entire undergraduate tenure. Academic Counselors interact with students, faculty, and staff to ensure student needs are met.

The Magnolia Scholars Program and First in the Forest Programs also provide outreach to equip faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds.


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

Admissions implements several relevant programs:

Visions: Students from underrepresented groups and low-income families are invited to spend two days on the WF campus to attend classes, meet with staff and administrations, interact with Multicultural Affairs staff, establish supportive relationships, and learn about the admissions process.

MOSAICS: Students from underrepresented groups who have been admitted are invited to campus for an overnight visit to learn more about opportunities afforded to undergraduates and engage in planned activities to facilitate their preparation for higher education.

Proteges Mentoring Program: Offered by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Proteges is a peer mentoring program for first-year students from underrepresented groups to aid their transition to the Wake Forest community.


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

Need-based Financial Aid policy ensures students from families with an annual income of $40,000 or less are guaranteed to have $4,000 or less in student loans in their financial aid package annually.

The Magnolia Scholars Program provides mentorship, advising, and merit aid annually for 30 first generation students who are from low-income families.


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

Parent programs are a component of the Visions Program, MOSAICS, and the Magnolia Scholars Program to ensure parents are equipped with the knowledge they need to prepare for the college admission process.

During first year orientation, the Office of Multicultural Affairs also hosts a Minority Parent and Student Information Session to ensure parents are informed of academic and social support services provided to students from underrepresented groups during their undergraduate tenure.

During Orientation, the Office of Multicultural Affairs also hosts a Latino Family Information Reception to introduce families to Latino/Hispanic faculty and staff as well as university resources. Spanish is spoken in the entire session.


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

Wake Forest has a need-aware admission policy wherein the family's financial status is not considered when the student is being reviewed for admission. This policy ensures academically gifted students who are economically disadvantaged have the same opportunity to attend the university as those from high-income families.

Wake Forest was the first top 30 ranked university to eliminate the mandatory submission of standardized test scores, including the SAT and ACT, as a part of the application for admission. This has encouraged academically gifted students from low-income families to apply for admission.


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

Wake Forest's admission policies and programs to foster diversity has signficantly enhanced representation among first generation students and students of color.


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

The Magnolia Scholars Program and First in the Forest Program both provide mentorship, advising, and merit aid annually for 30 first generation students who are from low-income families.


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

All first year students are assigned a Student Orientation Advisor who partners with the faculty or staff advisor to advise students during the first two years of their academic tenure and also aid in the transition process.


Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
No

A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
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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:
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A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
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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 11
The graduation/success rate for low-income students 89
The percentage of student financial need met, on average 100
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt 60

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