Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.52
Liaison Geory Kurtzhals
Submission Date Oct. 15, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of Notre Dame
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Geory Kurtzhals
Sr. Director
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 the institution’s participation in federal TRIO programs:

UPWARD BOUND SCHOLARS PROGRAM
TUTORING: TRiO Upward Bound Scholars receive individualized/group tutoring provided by Notre Dame students in Mathematics, Reading/Writing, Foreign Languages, Science, History, ISTEP and SAT preparation.

iCONNECT: An academic component where our scholars have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Language Arts, Mathematics, and Communication through a Project-Based approach and hands-on activities; Scholars not only learn theory concepts, but also how to apply what they learn.

WORKSHOPS: Upward Bound Workshops consists of life, academic, career and college preparation topics including knowledgeable guest speakers from the community and hands-on assistance with college applications, scholarships, and financial aid. As the student progresses through the workshops, assessments are given and an individualized college and career plan is created to fully prepare them for their senior year.

SENIOR SEMINAR: Seniors receive assistance in the rigors of the college admissions process. They attend workshops to assist them with SAT/ACT admission testing, college applications, financial aid application, and scholarship information to make the transition from high school to college.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND COLLEGE VISITS: Throughout the academic year and during the summer program, students take field trips to Universities/Colleges, College Fairs, Student Leadership Conferences, and cultural/social events.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: As a way of giving back to our community, during the academic year and the summer program, scholars and staff participate in community service activities in the South Bend area and a couple of activities that Upward Bound Scholars participate annually is "Rebuilding Together " formerly known as "Christmas in April" and a project proposed by Near Northwest Neighborhood Association.

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM
Scholars are selected to participate in a college life experience on the campus of Notre Dame. They live in a residential hall with other scholars, eat at the University dining hall, take academic courses to prepare them for the next grade level, partake in real life projects, and participate in motivational workshops, cultural activities and field trips to various colleges.

BRIDGE: During the summer, our high school graduates take a college course for 3 credits in Literature/Composition which can be transferred to any college they attend. In addition, they can participate in an internship with local companies and organizations in the South Bend Community.

RISING JUNIORS AND SENIORS: During the summer these scholars take American Government, Economics or U.S. History with a Research Component to receive high school credit.

All scholars in the 2009 Summer Residential Program received high school credit for either American Government, Economics, or U.S. History along with taking additional enrichment classes of Science, Spanish, and Math with some students taking Business Writing.

MOODYS COMPONENT: A select group of Scholars are introduced to new methods of analyzing real world problems through the use of Math, Economics, and Business Principles. The Moody's Foundation was established by the Moody's Corporation/Moody's KMV, a credit risk management technology firm which served the South Bend community.

EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH
Educational Talent Search is designed to identify and assist limited-income, first generation
students who have the potential to succeed in higher education. While in the program students are provided with academic, career, and financial aid counseling and are encouraged to graduate from high school and continue to post secondary education.

As participants, younger students attend in-school workshops on various topics such as study skills, test taking, and high school curriculum. Our junior and senior participants meet with an advisor on an individual basis to discuss topics that are more specific to the participant’s
situation. Various educational and cultural field trips are available to participants throughout the year. Once a student joins Educational Talent Search, he/she remains a participant until graduation from high school. After becoming a college student, assistance is still available with financial aid and/or college re-entry.


A brief description of the institution’s policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students?:

Notre Dame is fully committed to meeting the financial need of a student through our need-based aid program. Nearly half of the undergraduates receive at least one source of need-based aid (scholarship, grant, loan, and/or work). Approximately 75 percent of all undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid.

All students who complete the financial aid process are automatically considered for all University scholarship programs. The University is committed to offering a financial aid award designed to meet the financial need of all undergraduate applicants for financial aid. The level of University assistance is based on both demonstrated financial need and academic performance and thus varies from student to student.

Renewal of University scholarship assistance is based upon an annual review of a student's demonstrated financial need and academic performance at the University.

A self-help component, including student loan(s) and campus employment, typically serves as the foundation of a financial aid award prior to scholarship consideration.

University scholarship assistance and the self-help component are reviewed annually based on demonstrated financial need (including the student's receipt of additional student aid from other sources), academic performance, and annual increases in the cost of a Notre Dame education.

Students not receiving scholarship assistance as incoming students may be considered in subsequent years based upon a number of factors including financial need, academic performance and the availability of University scholarship resources.

Students from low-income backgrounds also are eligible for federal Pell Grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity (SEO) Grants, Academic Competitiveness (AC) Grants, National Smart Grants, and Federal Work-Study.


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

In addition to regular campus-wide events to raise awareness of issues of social justice, the University has several offices to help support faculty and staff. The Office of Institutional Equity provides training to faculty and staff to assist them in serving students with special needs and those from low-income backgrounds. The Center for Social Concerns also provides opportunities for faculty to participate in service and community-based learning as well as financial support for research, scholarship, teaching, and workshops on social justice issues.


A brief description of the institution’s programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

1. The Writing Center at the University of Notre Dame is dedicated to helping students become better writers. Writing Center tutors accomplish this goal by listening attentively in writing conferences, reading papers carefully, and asking questions that can help writers better express ideas or construct arguments. Tutors work with writers during all stages of the writing process—from understanding an assignment, to developing a thesis, to organizing the paper, to revising the first draft, to editing the final product.

2. The First Year of Studies’ Learning Resource Center (LRC) offers several types of help for students' more difficult classes. All sessions are free of charge and meet for two hours in the evenings once or twice a week. The assistance offered by the LRC is supplemental and not meant to replace students' own efforts, classroom instruction, meetings with professors, or any other assistance offered by the instructor or department.

3. Collaborative Learning organizes small groups of 4-6 students enrolled in the same course and section to work together on assignments in mathematics, chemistry, or physics. Upper class undergraduates who have excelled the course facilitate problem-solving and help when students can’t find a successful approach to a problem.

4. Tutoring is available to students for any class. Students work one-on-one with an upper class student who has a track record of success in that particular course. Help Sessions are offered on a regular basis for all mathematics, science, and language courses.

5. The Building Bridges Mentoring Program matches historically underrepresented first-year students with faculty from the departments that the students wish to explore as possible majors. The foundation of the program is built upon the work of faculty mentors who play an integral role in the academic development of the students. As a result of these early interactions with faculty, many Building Bridges students are finding opportunities for research and internships in their first two years at the University.

6. The Honor Students and High Achievers Program assists historically underrepresented Notre Dame students in their preparation for graduate school. Participants are invited at the beginning of their sophomore year. During their time in the program students maintain a highly competitive academic record and complete research under the guidance of Notre Dame faculty.

7. The Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program (BHSP) seeks to provide high-achieving students who are also members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education with a close-knit learning community that will give them the tools and connections they need to be at the leading edge of the arts, sciences, and humanities. The highlight of the Program is a rigorous, four-week summer curriculum that introduces incoming first years to the academic and social challenges of university life. The Program follows up with students throughout the academic year, supporting the academic advising provided by the First Year of Studies, and providing opportunities for students' intellectual, social, and spiritual development. BHSP offers additional scholarship opportunities and leadership development for “post-Balfours”—upper-level Balfour Scholars.


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

There are a variety of scholarships available for low-income students at Notre Dame. A list of the scholarships can be found on the Multicultural Students Programs and Services website: http://msps.nd.edu/programs/breaking-through-barriers/useful-links/scholarships-fellowships/


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
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A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

Notre Dame fosters success, bringing high school students to campus through our Pre-College Programs, which allow them to experience living and learning on campus during the summer. Scholarships are available for qualified students from low-income backgrounds:
•Summer Scholars offers rising high school juniors and seniors with outstanding academic records an opportunity to explore one of 13 academic fields of study with some of Notre Dame's finest faculty members.
•Global Issues Seminar offers rising high school seniors with excellent academic records the chance to learn about the future challenges facing young Catholic leaders through a series of lectures by distinguished faculty, group discussions, and collaborative projects.
•Latino Community Leadership Seminar offers outstanding Hispanic students entering their senior year of high school an opportunity to explore the role of Latinos in U.S. society through a series of presentations, discussions, and experiences that will help them develop strong leadership skills.
•Seminar for African American Scholars offers talented, enthusiastic, and open-minded African American students entering their senior year of high school a chance to delve into the rich historical, political, and spiritual legacy of African-American culture.


A brief description of the institution’s other admissions policies and programs:
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A brief description of the institution’s other financial aid polices or programs:
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A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs not covered above:

Breaking Through Barriers is a program that provides various workshops to equip underrepresented students with vital skills for their academic, professional, and personal growth. Programs help to elevate the level of confidence of underrepresented students so they can compete for high-level and high-salaried positions, to equip underrepresented students with vital job survival skills, to create a diverse pool of qualified employment applicants, and to meet the critical need of employers seeking to diversify their employment candidate pool.


The website URL where information about programs in each of the areas listed above 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.