Western Kentucky University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

WKU strives to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students through loans, scholarships, and grants. The Student Government Association also offers scholarships to students for assistance with costs of attendance during Winter and Summer terms, which other loans may not cover.

The WKU TRiO operates four programs focusing on pre-enrollment orientation; three Educational Talent Search regions and Upward Bound. Educational Talent Search (ETS) projects serve young people in grades six through 12. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships, and various student financial aid programs. This early intervention program helps people from families with incomes under $33,075 (where neither parent graduated from college) to better understand their educational opportunities and options. More than 800,000 students are enrolled in 3,100 Talent Search TRIO projects across the United States. The WKU ETS office has 13 staff members and two (2) office coordinators. Recruitment efforts by WKU’s ETS in fall 2018 and spring 2019 resulted in the enrollment of 66 students for fall 2019.

WKU TRiO also houses the Upward Bound program. WKU Upward Bound (UB) is a federally funded educational program. UB is dedicated to identifying, recruiting, and selecting students who are determined to succeed academically. Applicants must be both low income, according to current federal guidelines, and first-generation college students. This UB program serves six schools in five south central Kentucky counties: Allen County-Scottsville, Butler County, Edmonson County, Hart County, Logan County, and Russellville High Schools. The goal of WKU’s UB is to prepare students for college academically, culturally, and socially. UB is a 12- month program which provides assistance with high school course selection, study skills, ACT preparation, college and career information, college selection, and the financial aid application (FAFSA). Staff visit each high school three times per month throughout the school year to meet with students. Other programs are presented once a month on Saturdays from September through May on WKU’s campus. Students also attend a six-week residential program each summer that focuses on academics and provides cultural engagement and social activities. The WKU UB office has three (3) staff members and one (1) office coordinator. Recruitment efforts by WKU’s ETS in fall 2018 and spring 2019 resulted in the enrollment of two (2) students for fall 2019.
Strengthening the relationship between the Office of Admission and WKU TRiO helped identify gaps in recruiting URM and low-income students. Although TRiO programs are federally funded at do not specifically target or show preference for one university over another, providing WKU representatives with information about the unique programs available on our campus (especially for low-income and first-generation) can help students in making informed choices about which institution to attend.

In terms of next steps, WKU TRiO has laid the ground work to create a first-generation student initiative, as outlined in the WKI DEI Plan called the “I Am First”Campaign. The program will be ready for implementation in early spring 2020. The “I Am First” Campaign is aimed at students, pre-enrollment, who are first generation and need assistance with socialization and expectation setting prior to arrival on campus. The campaign also connects faculty and staff who were first generation with students who are the “first 2 go” for the purpose of mentorship. The new “I Am First” Campaign is fully supported by WKU TRiO.

The WKU TOPDollar Scholarship source provides a complete list of all scholarship opportunities that are available for students at Western Kentucky University. WKU began working on a new scholarship structure in 2018-19 that would benefit URM and low-income students. Underrepresented minority students with a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA qualify for a Targeted Award. The follow will be effective for incoming WKU freshmen as early as the beginning of fall 2020:
• WKU removed the ACT requirement from almost all merit-based and targeted academic scholarships.
• WKU increased the minimum merit scholarship award by $1,000 to $2,500.
• WKU reduced the minimum GPA requirement from 3.3 to 3.0.
• WKU created additional scholarship opportunities for underrepresented minority students through an expansion of the Cornelius A. Martin Scholarship.

The Cornelius A. Martin Scholarship is awarded to URM students as follows:
• Students who have a 2.5 up to 2.9 unweighted GPA qualify for $2,000 per academic year.
• Students who have a 3.0 or greater unweighted GPA qualify for $3,000 per academic year.

WKU offers comprehensive programming to support adult adult learners. Information can be found here, and a sampling of support service are listed below,
https://www.wku.edu/online/srp/adult-learners.php

WKU understands the needs and commitments of adult learners. We recognize that “life” doesn’t stop when you want to attend college. Whether your goal is to complete an associate degree, finish your bachelor’s degree, pursue a graduate degree, or simply earn one of our many certificates, the office of Adult Learner Services is here to assist you. With campuses in Bowling Green, Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, Glasgow, and Owensboro Kentucky and a variety of flexible delivery formats including face-to-face, interactive video services (IVS), online, and on-demand, furthering your education has never been more convenient.

Enrollment staff at each campus are available to help you with: Pre-enrollment counseling; Procedures for admissions or re-admissions; Financial aid & scholarships; Registering for classes

WKU offers an increasing variety of distance learning programs that are designed for non-traditional students. These include both undergraduate courses and entire graduate programs and certificates.
A success coaching program for non-traditional students, Coaching for Academic Readiness and Excellence program is available for adult learners.
WKU now houses the Center for Financial Success. The mission of the Center is to improve financial literacy for students by sharing the expertise of a resident Certified Financial Planner on a host of topics regarding financial success. The Center participates in various on campus workshops, seminars and presentations to share their knowledge. WKU-Online is actively collaborating with the Center for Financial Success to bring these experiences to our online community by recording the events and making them available on their Youtube channel.