| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.75 |
| Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
| Submission Date | April 26, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Westminster University - Utah
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.15 / 4.00 |
Mariah
McCoy Sustainability Fellow Westminster 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 $60 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 Dumke Center for Civic Engagement held a faculty/staff learning community that included research into best practices for recruiting and retaining first generation students and students from underrepresented groups. Research shows that many of these students are also low income.
A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
The Venture Program is a community-based program offering accredited college courses in the liberal arts, tuition-free, to people living on low incomes who have limited access to college education. https://www.westminstercollege.edu/diversity/?parent=4353&detail=15508&content=15723
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. Please note this program only helps a small population, and does not make Westminster any more affordable, simply provides assistance in getting students into graduate programs.
Another program, Clemente, involves Westminster College faculty and students from the Honors Program exciting under-served high school students at East High School about college through the Clemente Course in the Humanities, a new community partnership with East High and the University of Utah Honors College. The Utah Humanities Council initiated and directs the project. The Clemente course is an interdisciplinary, elective humanities course for high school sophomores who hope to be the first in their families to attend college. A highly experiential, discussion-based course, Clemente brings college faculty to east high to teach philosophy, art history, literature and history.
The institution has also created a program called Walkways to Westminster, which is a college access program for first generation, underrepresented 8-12th grade youth from Promise South Salt Lake. The Walkways program mentors both youth and their families about the steps it takes to obtain higher education. Westminster College student mentors strive to keep Walkways students and families connected to a college going culture with hands on activities and resources that encourage them to prepare for life after high school.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
When assisting low-income families, the Westminster Financial Aid Office helps parents and students by providing information and assistance, including workshops. The Walkways to Westminster program also has provided some programs for parents. Westminster's community writing center "Write On" provides application assistance to applicants and parents.
A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
The Walkways to Westminster, Clemente, and Venture programs all target low income populations in the surrounding community.
A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
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:
Venture is a community-based program offering accredited college courses in the liberal arts, tuition-free, to people living on low incomes who have limited access to college education. https://www.westminstercollege.edu/diversity/?parent=4353&detail=15508&content=15723
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.