Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.91
Liaison Nathan King
Submission Date Aug. 2, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Virginia Tech
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Perry D. Martin
Special Assistant to the Vice President
Diversity and Inclusion
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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:

The university has a McNair Scholars Program and has an Upward Bound Talent Search Program.


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

Through the university’s Financial Aid and Scholarship Office students are afforded the opportunity to work with counselors on funding strategies for their education and a wide variety of need based scholarships are available. Some specific programs (listed below) have been developed to assist low-income students.

The Funds for the Future Program: Virginia Tech's "Funds for the Future" program seeks to accomplish two objectives: (1) Protect certain groups of low-income undergraduates from tuition and fees increase, (2) Reduce unmet need for certain groups of low income undergraduates. By doing this, Virginia Tech hopes to increase the affordability for students to attend Virginia Tech by increasing instructional funding for student aid.


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

A coordinating group of academic advisors meet monthly to discuss strategies for supporting students from low-income backgrounds among other topics.

Financial Aid holds yearly information sessions for Virginia Tech faculty and staff to discuss strategies for scholarship planning. This annual meeting also provides an overview of the Financial Aid process.


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

The Upward Bound Talent Search Program works to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education.

Virginia Tech has a pre-college ambassadors program which has provided college information and planning assistance through Virginia Tech Opportunity Camps and direct outreach through external community partners such as Girl Scouts, College Bound Pre-College Program for students with disabilities, and various school divisions in the State of Virginia.


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

The Presidential Scholarship Initiative: Through the Virginia Tech Presidential Scholarship Initiative, up to 50 low-income students from Virginia will be awarded a renewable scholarship each year that includes tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board. The initiative anticipates supporting up to 200 students once it is fully implemented. Other benefits to the student include, special orientation programming, social and community-building activities to reinforce Virginia Tech as a community that respects and embraces the differences of all individuals, a well-established and structured academic support system, faculty mentoring, and more.

The Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid (USFA), Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), and the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence (CAEE) sponsor the Virginia Tech Student Support Grants Program (SSGP). This initiative is designed to improve the retention and graduation rates of the undergraduate student population and to contribute to the development of student leaders on campus.

Please see www.finaid.vt.edu for more details.


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

Parent Talk is an information session that addresses academic support and campus climate issues, specifically as it relates to under-represented students. Parent Talk is held on Family Day in the fall semester.


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

Virginia Tech has a pre-college ambassadors program which has provided college information and planning assistance through Virginia Tech Opportunity Camps and direct outreach through external community partners such as Girl Scouts, College Bound Pre-College Program for students with disabilities, and various school divisions in economically challenged divisions in the State of Virginia.


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:
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The website URL where information about programs in each of the areas listed above is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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