| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.31 |
| Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
| Submission Date | June 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Westminster University - Utah
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.15 / 4.00 |
Kyle
Wray Sustainability Fellow Environmental Center |
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
Westminster College awards merit-based and need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study to make a Westminster education affordable, even for those with limited financial resources. Westminster annually awards more than $40 million in financial aid to student based on family income as well as merit-based awards. Westminster also offers a free May Term and reduced priced summer classes for full time fall/spring term students.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The Diversity Counsel supports low-income under-represented groups throughout their experience at Westminster College.
Faculty members working with the McNair program support those under-represented students from low-income backgrounds and helps guide those students with the process of getting a doctorate education.
A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Westminster College actively supports and participates in the Ronald E. McNair program. This grant helps prepare first-generation, low-income college students for doctoral studies through faculty mentors, research experiences, and other scholarly studies.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Westminster College offers 100 scholarships as well as grants based on financial need.
Grants Include:
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Westminster College Grants
Website for Grants:
http://www.westminstercollege.edu/financial_aid_undergraduate/index.cfm?parent=4210&detail=7018
Shcolarship info can be found online as well:
http://www.westminstercollege.edu/financial_aid_undergraduate/index.cfm?parent=4210&detail=4217
Students can also apply for federal, state, and institutional aid programs by completing a FAFSA.
A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
Westminster College has an Office of Parent Relations which helps parents stay up-to-date with campus events and feel more closely connected with their student and the college. More than 93% of graduates confidently recommend Westminster to others giving parents the reassurance that the Westminster College can provide a rewarding education for their child.
A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Westminster College works with the federal program GEAR UP.
GEAR UP is a grant to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire group of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the group through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.
About 97% of Westminster's entering freshmen receive some form of merit-based and/or need-based financial aid. The average award for 2008-2009 was $18,533. This fact gives most incoming students the drive to get attend Westminster College because the institution provides large merit based scholarships.
A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Westminster College actively supports and participates in the Ronald E. McNair program. This grant helps prepare first-generation, low-income college students for doctoral studies through faculty mentors, research experiences, and other scholarly studies.
A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
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:
A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
The Adult Student in Scholastic Transistion (ASIST) Scholarship is a non-discriminatory educational scholarship for the benefit of non-traditional students. These include persons who are past high school age and who are entereing college/university and/or trade program, are retraining due to changes in the workplace or who otherwise are not the traditional college or trade school student, recently finished with high school. The goal of the ASIST program is to enable each recipient to improve their self-esteem and to have a positive impact on the recipient's personal life, employment, family and community. Interested applicants can complete the scholarship application available on the EWI website at www.saltlakecityewi.org under the "About Us" tab or pick up an application in the Financial Aid Office
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
| Percentage (0-100) | |
| The percentage of entering students that are low-income | --- |
| The graduation/success rate for low-income students | --- |
| The percentage of student financial need met, on average | 75 |
| The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt | 40 |
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:
The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.