Southern Oregon University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

SOU hosts two TRiO programs: Student Support Services, which serves 190 undergraduates each year; and the Ronald E McNair Post Baccalaureate program, which serves students in graduate school. Both programs provide academic support services to low-income students who are the first in their families to attain Bachelor's degrees.

SOU is committed to providing quality education at an affordable cost for citizens of its service area. Examples of institutional policies and programs that help keep an SOU education accessible to our low-income students include: • Waiving the Application fee for low-income prospective SOU students upon the request of their high school guidance counselor; • Deferral of the Matriculation Fee until financial aid has been disbursed to students; • Approximately $2 million in institutional tuition remission programs (scholarships) awarded annually based on financial need; • Availability of Federal need-based financial aid funds, including low-interest Perkins loans; • No charge for academic support programs and services, including tutoring, writing assistance, academic and career advising.

Many SOU faculty and staff members work collaboratively with the TRiO program staff to help student's succeed in college. Further, staff and faculty referrals are a primary method of recruiting students into the TRiO programs.

The Student Success Initiatives Program serves students from low-income backgrounds through case management and services offered through the First Year Mentor Program (FYMP), and the Community of Recovery Program (CORPS). Individual students who are struggling with any significant barrier to academic, personal, or social success may be referred for case management through the Student Success Initiatives Program. They may then be referred for participation in the First Year Mentor Program or the Community of Recovery Program at Southern (CORPS) depending on their specific needs. The FYMP serves first year students who are struggling with making social connections or having difficulty transitioning into university life. Students from low-income backgrounds are specifically invited to participate in FYMP, as it allows them to develop a relationship with a successful upper-class mentor. A special email invitation is sent to students with zero expected family contribution and students who enter the institution in an independent status. Students who are in recovery are encouraged to participate in the CORPS Program, including many students coming to the institution from low-income backgrounds. This provides an intentional community of support, relapse prevention, and recovery protections.

All students whose completed FAFSA applications are processed by the Federal Processor on or before March 1 and who have applied for admission to SOU are considered for the nearly $2 million in institutional tuition remissions (scholarships). These remissions range in amount from $600 to $3,000 per year. Students are ranked according to Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The Financial Aid Office uses "Federal Methodology": the standard, federally approved method for determining what funds the family (parent and/or student) should have available to meet the year's educational costs. The EFC is subtracted from the standard student budget for the academic year, and the remaining figure is considered the student's financial eligibility. Students with the lowest family contribution (EFC) are awarded campus-based funds until those funds are fully committed. (The Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans and the Pell Grant remain available all year.)

Preview Days and Raider Registration Programs are designed to assist both students and parents through the process of being a successful university experience. Financial Aid staff visit area high schools and offer programs for families on financial aid programs and how to apply, and individual families are encouraged to make appointments to meet with financial aid counselors if they need assistance. Some programs are offered in Spanish for those who are more comfortable in that language.

In addition to the college tour and our regular high school visitation program, SOU participates in the GEAR-UP program, and is connected to all of the regional Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search programs that work with low-income and/or first generation students who aspire to attend college.

SOU Admissions hosts four preview programs each year with two being day events and two being overnight events. One of the overnight events is specifically designed for under-represented minority students. On- and off-campus partnerships help make this particular event valuable for under-represented students in the Rogue Valley.

Financial aid at Southern Oregon University consists of scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study employment. Applying nine months ahead of time is the key to being considered for many of these funds.