Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.25
Liaison Jacob Saffert
Submission Date Feb. 4, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Saint John's University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.31 / 4.00 Jacob Saffert
Sustainability Fellow
Office of Sustainability
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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:

CSB|SJU offers a wide range of financial support packages available to students through the Financial Aid Office, including scholarships, grants, student employment, and loans. This aid may also include study abroad programs and other service trips available to students.


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

CSB|SJU supports various staff training programs to help them better serve students from low-income backgrounds.


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

As referenced above, CSB|SJU supports incoming first-generation students from low-income backgrounds through the Upward Bound program, which provides various services to help prepare the students for college and supports them throughout the year.


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

Various scholarships are available specifically for low-income students through the Financial Aid Office. These forms of aid are case-specific and the Financial Aid Office is always willing to work with individual students from low-income backgrounds to best suit their familial- or economic status-based needs.


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

The first-generation programs also assist parents of low-income students. During orientation there are also sessions for parents about what to expect of new students. A newsletter is also sent to parents to give them more information about the institution and what students are experiencing.


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

This institution actively recruits students from low-income backgrounds to ensure campus diversity. Within the admissions department, there is a position directly assigned to recruit low-income and first-generation students.


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

The institution awards substantial merit- and need-based aid to admitted students. Several institutional scholarship programs (e.g. Intercultural Lead, Benedictine, FoCuS,) specifically target students from low-income families.


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

While the institution does not commit to meet the full demonstrated need of aid applicants, an effort is made to meet as much of the student’s need as possible. Low-income students are given preference for Federal Perkins Loan funds, minimizing their need to utilize non-federal private loans. Essentially all low-income students are offered student employment (work-study) as part of their financial aid package, providing them both transferable job skills and a source of income for tuition and miscellaneous expenses.


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

The financial aid office regularly works with students who are having financial challenges, due to changes in their family’s financial situation, for example. Additional financial aid can typically be extended for legitimate and documented changes in a family’s financial circumstances.


Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

The institution does not have scholarships specifically for part-time students. Part-time students are charged a pro-rated tuition rate, and have access to state and federal financial aid. If they receive institutional scholarship funding, it is pro-rated based on their tuition charges.


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:

The institution enrolls very few students with child-care needs. On the occasion a student has such needs, the financial aid office works with the student to assess their situation and develop a plan to meet the student’s needs as best as possible.


A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

The institution enrolls a very small number of non-traditional students, but they are given access to institutional funding, as well as state and federal aid for which they are eligible.


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 24
The graduation/success rate for low-income students 90
The percentage of student financial need met, on average 92
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt 25

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:
25

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.