Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.09
Liaison Tom Hartzell
Submission Date June 28, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Calvin University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.79 / 4.00 Michelle Loyd-Paige
Exec. Associate to the President for Diversity and Inclusion
President's Office
"---" 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:

Calvin’s academic scholarships are provided to all students equally based on high school achievements. Calvin’s need-based award program provides need-based grants to low-income students based on the filing of their FAFSA and any other special circumstances they share with us through supplemental information. Through that awarding, a certain level of income and assets is protected. The college also participates in the Title IV program, providing Pell Grant, Campus-based Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work Study dollars to lower-income families. Though not every first generation students has low-income, the college recognizes the financial and other challenges these students may face and provides a $2,000 first generation award for those students whose parents did not attend college. Missionary family students often experience lower income. For these families, foreign earned income is not included in the need-based calculation. There are many endowed scholarships which are designated for students with demonstrated financial need. Calvin also partners with the Kalamazoo Promise Foundation to enable students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public High Schools to receive full tuition benefits.


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:

-Online resources: https://calvin.edu/offices-services/pre-college-programs/resources/
-Calvin’s Office of Pre-College Programs offers multiple programs aimed to prepare students for higher education:
 Striving Toward Educational Possibilities (STEP) is a three day, on campus program in which students visit a college class and explore the necessary steps for college entry and future career directions.
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Young Leaders Weekend (MLK) is a three day event featuring workshops, worship and time for reflection.
 Aspirando Alto is also a three day, on campus program during which students explore the necessary steps for college entry and future career directions.
 The ACT/SAT EXCEL Tutoring Program is a partnership between Calvin and local high school students which provides mentoring and support in preparation for taking the ACT or SAT.
 The Entrada Scholars Program is a summer academic achievement program for U.S. racial and ethnic minority students. While living on campus for four weeks, they take a Calvin course along with other Calvin students and earn college credit.


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

Calvin’s academic scholarships are provided to all students equally based on high school achievements. Calvin’s need-based award program provides need-based grants to low-income students based on the filing of their FAFSA and any other special circumstances they share with us through supplemental information. Through that awarding, a certain level of income and assets is protected. The college also participates in the Title IV program, providing Pell Grant, Campus-based Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work Study dollars to lower-income families. Though not every first generation students has low-income, the college recognizes the financial and other challenges these students may face and provides a $2,000 first generation award for those students whose parents did not attend college. Missionary family students often experience lower income. For these families, foreign earned income is not included in the need-based calculation. There are many endowed scholarships which are designated for students with demonstrated financial need. Calvin also partners with the Kalamazoo Promise Foundation to enable students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public High Schools to receive full tuition benefits.


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

Calvin participates in College Greenlight, a web-based organization that connects colleges and universities with community development organizations around the country which support first generation, under-represented students. Chicago Scholars, a provider of college counseling, mentoring, and a supportive community, is another organization with which Calvin works directly. Calvin Admissions Counselors visit many high schools in zip codes areas with lower socio-economic averages and attend a variety of college fairs which attract low-income students.


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

All academic scholarships and many of the endowed scholarships are available to part-time students on a prorated basis.


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:

N/A


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

Calvin offers a variety of evening classes that are available to all students; the Director of Commuter Student Life also works to integrate non-traditional and commuter students.


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):
23

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
66

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):
52.40

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):
38

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):
23

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:

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
 Pell: approximately 23%;
 First Generation: approximately 5-7%
 Institutional need-based aid: approximately 61%
The websites where information about the institution’s affordability and access programs is available:
www.calvin.edu/offices-services/financial-aid/
www.calvin.edu/offices-services/pre-college-programs/
www.calvin.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/


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
 Pell: approximately 23%;
 First Generation: approximately 5-7%
 Institutional need-based aid: approximately 61%
The websites where information about the institution’s affordability and access programs is available:
www.calvin.edu/offices-services/financial-aid/
www.calvin.edu/offices-services/pre-college-programs/
www.calvin.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/

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.