Bentley University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Bentley University is committed to making a private education affordable for students from diverse and low-income families. In the most recent academic year, Bentley administered approximately $72 million in need-based grants and academic scholarships to undergraduate students. Each year approximately 75%-80% of these funds are awarded to students who have financial need. About half of enrolling freshmen demonstrate financial need and typically 15% demonstrate very high need (as defined by needing at least 75% of the cost of attendance). Low-income Federal Pell Grant recipients comprise between 12%-15% of incoming first-year students. The average financial aid package meets 93% of a student’s defined financial need, with 88% of the package contain gift aid (grants and scholarships). Bentley also participates in the Massachusetts No Interest Loan Program for low-income Massachusetts residents, which helps reduce the cost of borrowing for low-income students.

The University offers a 2-day diversity retreat for faculty and staff, designed to deepen awareness and understanding of diversity issues on the Bentley Campus. It provides a forum for members of the community to discuss and learn about how diversity issues such as gender, nationality, race and sexual orientation affect the functions of our university. The Student Affairs division offers staff members workshops and training on Implicit Bias, particularly for staff who have significant interactions with students. The CARE committee is a cross divisional group of professionals who provide assistance, guidance or feedback to students in crisis or who seem to be falling through the cracks. The team also supports members of the community who interact with students by assessing and evaluating concerns and communicating with individuals involved.

The University recently created a task force to address successful college transition topics for First Generation students, many of whom typically come from low-income backgrounds. The current plan includes a First Gen social during new student orientation, an email listserv and Twitter account for targeted and helpful communications, and a web page dedicated to First Gen college transition topics and resources. The initiative will be expanded in the near future as the task force completes its work. The Peer2Peer Mentorship Program is coordinated through the Multicultural Center and pairs freshmen with juniors to help them navigate life at Bentley while promoting academic, personal, and social development. The Summer Transition Education Program (STEP) provides college admission support for high-potential students who may have faced academic, socioeconomic, or personal challenges beyond their control. Its benefits include: • Funding for Bentley’s orientation program (for all new students) and a six-week residential program (exclusively for STEP students) • A financial aid package with reduced loan awards and a higher percentage of grants than a typical aid award • Two free summer courses • Monitoring of students’ academic progress • Mentoring, academic advising and tutoring • Counseling, support and referrals • Networking and professional development opportunities http://www.bentley.edu/campus-life/culture-diversity/multicultural-center/programs

Bentley awards grants and academic scholarships that meet financial need. Over half of the academic scholarships awards are made to students with financial need. Plus, Bentley awards over 300 funds from our endowment that are directed to students who have need. A sample is included below: The Ron Burton Scholarship is awarded each year to a participant of the Ron Burton Training Village, a youth outreach program in Hubbardston, MA. Students must demonstrate considerable financial need. The award covers full tuition for four years. The Jennison Family Grant is awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate very high financial need. The annual award is $3,500 and covers the loan component of the financial aid award. The Jennison Family Scholarship is awarded to students with relatively low Expected Family Contributions (EFC), with a focus on students from large urban areas. The award value is typically between 10% and 40% of tuition. The Bentley Fee Grant is awarded to outstanding students from underrepresented groups with financial need to assist them with enrollment fees typically not covered by Bentley grants and scholarships. The Michael and Mary Malison Scholarship is awarded based on financial need to a student without parents from western New York State. Approximately $2,000 is awarded annually. The Peter Martin Scholarship is awarded to any student with financial need who is considered “underprivileged.” Approximately $15,000 is available annually.

The staff of the Office of Financial Assistance offers additional and targeted outreach to low-income students and parents to assist them through the financial aid application process. Three staff members speak Spanish and are able to provide consultation. For our STEP students, a financial aid interview is required as part of the admission process to ensure that families understand the application process and to identify any potential obstacles to a smooth application process. Financial aid communications are sent electronically but also via print to first year students so that parents will have easy access to information being provided to the student. The new student orientation program contains a parent/family component consisting of videos, webcasts, and live chats to inform parents of important deadlines and enrollment information. Students from underrepresented groups have the option to attend an early move-in program prior to orientation to acclimate themselves to college life. This program offers an information session for parents to help with transition questions and issues.

The undergraduate admission staff dedicates a full time staff position to the recruitment and enrollment of First Generation students, particularly from underrepresented minorities, who provides personal outreach to students and builds partnerships with Community Based Organizations who serve First Generation students. The diversity counselor also works with all admission counselors to ensure the strategic diversity initiatives are reflected in their travel and other recruitment activities. Prospective students of color are invited to attend a preview weekend in the fall to experience campus life and hear from diverse students regarding their Bentley experience. Admitted students are offered a similar experience in the spring, in coordination with our Multicultural Center. Our Student Search strategy includes specific purchases of names of First Generation and students of color to expand the diversity in the admission funnel. Several communications are targeted at diverse students. The financial aid communication, designed to address the needs and questions of all prospective students, has a focus on Bentley’s affordability once financial aid is applied to the cost.

The university is need-blind for well over 90% of admission decisions, but may take a need-aware approach during final class shaping and for students admitted from the waitlist.

Recipients of Federal Work Study are given preference in the on-campus hiring process to ensure their success in securing campus employment. Bentley also partners with a non-profit vendor for financial literacy education and services to assist loan borrowers with debt management and loan repayment advice.

Bentley participates in the VA Yellow Ribbon program, providing additional assistance to members of the military (who are often non-traditional students) and their families. Approximately $9,500 is available annually through the Joan McCormick Scholarship Fund for students who demonstrate financial need and are not registered full time.

Students with families are encouraged to submit additional documentation as part of the financial aid process in order to construct a cost of attendance budget that provides an allowance for the cost of child care.

Transfer students, often a non-traditional population, are offered an orientation program for both fall- and term-term entry.