Cornell University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

The University provides what is known as need-based aid. This means that a calculation based on the information from FASFA and the CSS Profile is used to create a financial aid award for students. The University also has developed two initiatives as it pertains to financial aid. The first is for parent contribution, and the second student loan. These are tiered programs to assist in making the Cornell more accessible. The parent contribution initiative states that families with income below $60,000 and total assets less than $100,000, that student can receive a package without a parent contribution. The loan initiative states a family with income below $60,000 will have a student aid package without a loan. If the income is slightly higher, between $60,000 and $75,000, the loans will be capped at $2,500. If the family income is between $75,000 and $120,000, the loan is capped at $5,000 in the package. And if the family income is above $120,000, the loan is capped at $7,500 in the package. All of these options make Cornell a very affordable institution for our neediest students. http://finaid.cornell.edu/cost-attend/financial-aid-initiatives

The University has several offerings designed to support faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds. Through the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), many resources are available online for faculty as they plan and design courses, syllabi, and teaching strategies. Staff from the office are available for consultation on issues and serve as resources. Additionally, CTE sponsors the Faculty Institute on Diversity, a three day institute that brings faculty together to discuss issues related to diversity and how to incorporate and infuse them into all aspects of their teaching. Through the McNair program, workshops have been offered for faculty mentors on working with the diverse backgrounds of the scholars and how to support them on their path to PhDs. The Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives and the Office of Institutional Research and Planning regularly provide data to colleges and departments about the progress, retention, and achievement of students who are Pell-Grant eligible and those on financial aid in comparison with all other students. Training and resources for staff are also provided through the Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity. http://www.cte.cornell.edu/index.html https://www.hr.cornell.edu/diversity/ https://oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-success-programs/mcnair.html

One program that works with low-income students to prepare for college is the Pre-Freshman Summer program. While not every student enrolled in the program is from a low-income background, the majority of the students are. This program is designed to be a bridge program for students to aid in the preparation and transition and from high school to college. This is a requirement for students enrolled in Cornell through the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) for low-income NYS residents. These two programs are administered in conjunction with the seven undergraduate colleges and schools through the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives. NYS residents from low-income backgrounds who are considered academically underprepared are selected for the program and through financial and academic support are given admission to Cornell. The Prefreshmen Summer Program helps to prepare them for the academic year. Cornell has several scholarship programs for high school students from low-income backgrounds to attend our residential Summer College, and we also partner with the Telluride Foundation on campus to bring a similar cohort of students to that summer program. Additionally, the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives has secured funding to provide 10 high school schools from Harlem, NY, and 10 high school students that participate in 4H the opportunity to attend Summer College. In addition to the regular Summer College Offerings, these students are paired with a staff member in OADI to support and advise them throughout the summer. Additionally, Cornell takes part in a local initiative called Access to College Education (ACE). ACE is a collaborative partnership between 12 area school discticts and four local colleges/universities. Over the course of the year, students and families are introduced to various avenues available to them for higher education. Each of the institutions hosts students for a half day workshop to include information on financial aid, admissions, the college selection process, and specific details about the college. These workshops are lead by staff from the universities and student panelists. We have conducted financial aid application workshops in NYC the last 7 years. http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/types-aid http://www2.cortland.edu/community/outreach/ace/ https://oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-opportunity-programs/arthur-o-eve.html

http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/types-aid Cornell has made the commitment to students who demonstrate financial need by meeting that need with one or more financial aid components. Each aid application is carefully reviewed and a specific aid package is designed to meet each students' particular need. Building on a long history of providing opportunity and access to students regardless of economic circumstances, Cornell also has several financial aid initiatives to help ease the financial burden for undergraduate students and their parents. Cornell has added undocumented students with DACA (Deferred Action) status to the pool of students eligible for full need funding in financial aid.

Through the NYS Opportunity Programs (EOP/HEOP), the Director, Assistant Director, and Senior Advisor travel across NYS recruiting through college fairs as well as high school and community based organization visits. They discuss these programs with prospective high school students. The office works collaboratively with the Undergraduate Admissions Office to coordinate trips, materials, and outreach across the state as well as participate in any on-campus bus trips from agencies and high schools. Efforts have also been made to work with Cornell University Cooperative Extension through 4H to reach more students across the state in a virtual environment. The American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) also hosts a yearly recruitment and engagement weekend for native students. "Promising Futures" is a weekend workshop for students that exposes them to information about Cornell as well as admissions, financial aid, and opportunity programs. Staff from each of these offices meets with students over the weekend to talk about the opportunities that exist at Cornell. https://oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-opportunity-programs/arthur-o-eve.html https://aiisp.cornell.edu/

The Pre Professional Programs (P3) is a programming and support initiative housed in the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives for the purpose of recruiting, preparing and graduating underrepresented, economically disadvantaged, or first-generation students to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and Professional fields. Additionally, OADI provides Community Development and Social Justice Programming through which students from non-traditional backgrounds are engaged and supported. A particular focus is on first-generation college students through the "First In Class" as well as non-traditional students through the "Trailblazers" programs. Each of these programs offer regular workshops and meetings to provide support to students and assist them in navigating through higher education. OADI also provides funding support for students involved in the programs to be able to obtain experiences through research, internships, and other professional development ventures. https://www.oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-success-programs/cdsjp.html https://oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-success-programs/pre-professional-programs.html/ https://oadi.cornell.edu/funding%20and%20student%20employment/student-organization-dept-funding.html

Cornell does not have scholarships for part-time students, except through its employee tuition program and its summer college pipeline scholarships.

There is an on-site child care center managed by Bright Horizons Family Solutions. This venue provides child care support for children from 6 weeks to 5 years. The service is open to all Cornell faculty, staff, and students and there is a fee for the service. Cornell students with dependents can apply for a grant to in the cost of child care. Additionally, there is a Dependent Care Consultant available for students to explore child care options. http://studentswithfamilies.cornell.edu/ http://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/NY/Ithaca/Cornell/

Through the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI), the Community Develop and Social Justice Programming encompasses non-traditional students. Programming and support is given for students who are adult learners, students with dependents, veterans, and first generation students.