Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Elizabeth Drake
Submission Date June 29, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Swarthmore College
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Clara Fang
Sustainability Coordinator
Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility
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Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

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A brief description of the institution’s participation in federal TRIO programs:
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A brief description of the institution’s policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students?:
Our first goal is to meet financial need for all students, ensuring that cost is not a factor in determining a student’s ability to pursue a Swarthmore education. The practice of not considering financial circumstances in admissions decisions for domestic students should continue, assuming continued support from our donors and from the endowment. We should seek to achieve socioeconomic diversity among international students that mirrors the socioeconomic diversity of domestic students. From Swarthmore College Strategic Plan 2011

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A brief description of the institution’s programs to equip the institution's faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
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A brief description of the institution’s programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
"The SWARTHMORE COLLEGE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM, in continuous operation on the Swarthmore College campus since 1965, annually prepares up to 55 bright African American teenagers for higher education. Students live on campus during the five-week residential phase, returning during the academic year for Saturday classes and Thursday evening tutoring and homework help. Year round, the program provides rigorous academic instruction, individualized needs assessment, extensive tutoring, individualized counseling and exposure to a variety of personal, cultural, and historical enrichment experiences. Students and their parents receive guidance with the college admissions, SAT testing preparation and the financial application process." http://www.swarthmore.edu/Admin/upward_bound/index.htm

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A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
On December 8, 2007, Swarthmore's Board of Managers approved an expansion of its financial aid program; financial aid awards no longer include a loan component, with additional scholarship granted instead. "Financial need beyond that met with a campus job opportunity 7 or 8 hours weekly), is met with Swarthmore Scholarship or other grant funds. First to be considered are funds available from state, local, or federal sources. The College expects all aid applicants to seek aid from outside sources. Swarthmore Scholarships, made possible through the generosity of College alumni and friends, are awarded on the basis of demonstrated need and make up 95% of the gift-aid our students receive. The remaining 5% is provided in federal SEOG or Pell grants, state grants, or foundation or community sources." http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/financialaid/1011_%20Fin_Aid_%20Fin_%20Options.pdf

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A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
Online resources: http://www.swarthmore.edu/parents.xml Parents council: http://www.swarthmore.edu/x4765.xml

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A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Swarthmore became a Questbridge partner in 2006 in order to identify and recruit more socioeconomically diverse prospective students. Questbridge links high-achieving, low-income students with outstanding colleges and universities. http://www.swarthmore.edu/questbridge.xml

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A brief description of the institution’s other admissions policies and programs:
Admissions: http://www.swarthmore.edu/x504.xml

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A brief description of the institution’s other financial aid polices or programs:
Financial aid: http://www.swarthmore.edu/financialaid.xml

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A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs not covered above:
Strategic Plan Recommendation 4 part 2: Promote liberal arts education locally, nationally, and internationally with renewed vigor, affirming that Swarthmore’s commitment to access for all qualified students is essential for the best liberal arts experience.

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