| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.58 |
| Liaison | Derek Nichols |
| Submission Date | Dec. 14, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University at Buffalo
PA-7: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.96 / 4.00 |
John
Gottardy Director Of Financial Aid Financial Aid |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
Support for Low-Income Students
Yes
None
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
The University at Buffalo participates in all Title IV aid programs as well as the State of New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP Grant). Eligibility for these federal and state aid programs are geared toward low income families with the goal of providing access to higher education.
In addition to these federal and state programs UB offers a variety of institutional scholarships aimed at benefiting low income families. The University at Buffalo’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (UB EOP) is a multifaceted student academic enrichment program for talented and economically disadvantaged students who are inadmissible for general programs. EOP students come from first-generation, low-income families and underrepresented minority communities.
Another key UB program designed at minimizing the cost of attendance is The Office for University Preparatory Programs (OUPP) which is situated in UB’s Graduate School of Education and comprised of three pre-college programs. The programs consists of Liberty Partnerships, Upward Bound and the Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP). Each of these programs is charged with working with middle and/or high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to educate and prepare them for post-secondary education.
None
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The University at Buffalo’s faculty and staff have collaborated and worked in varying capacities with each program in the Office for University Preparatory Programs (OUPP). Faculty and staff engage with the three pre-college programs; Liberty Partnerships, Upward Bound and the Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP) to help prepare middle and/or high school students from underrepresented backgrounds with admissions to post-secondary programs.
In addition, Dr. Nathan Duan-Barnett, an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education has created a nationally recognized program targeting students from low socio-economic backgrounds. The initiative is a free application for the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion Campaign. This program sends mentors into local high schools to personally assist students and parents with the completion of the federal and state application for financial aid.
While UB’s Financial Aid Office has assisted with the FAFSA Completion Campaign, the office also provides area high schools with numerous financial aid nights geared at explaining all financial aid programs. The advising staff within the office is also trained in counseling students on financial literacy to prepare them during and after college with financial success.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Faculty and staff work with three pre-college programs within the Office for University Preparatory Programs: Liberty Partnerships, Upward Bound and the Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP) to help prepare middle and/or high school students from underrepresented backgrounds with admissions to post-secondary programs.
In addition, the University at Buffalo plays a key leadership role and houses Buffalo Prep--a unique enrichment program that enhances the quality of life for more than 500 disadvantaged students and their families each year and serves as a stepping stone to a brighter future. Prep partners with area consortium private high schools and college preparatory public high schools (including UB) that offer nearly $500,000 in financial aid to their students each year. Buffalo Prep, in turn, provides these schools with the opportunity to take advantage of a more diverse student body, which helps all students, families and staff members forge relationships that transcend racial, ethnic and economic differences. This diversity helps to prepare all students for colleges and workplaces that are becoming more representative of America's greater diverse community.
None
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
During the 2017-2018 academic year, the University at Buffalo’s students received over $130 million dollars in grants, scholarships and awards. While some of these dollars were allocated to student simply based on academic merit, the vast majority of these funds are awarded to students based on overall financial need. In addition, the majority of institutional endowed scholarships are earmarked to assist students from low-income families.
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
In addition to an admissions recruitment plan that provides targeted outreach at high schools in low socio-economic areas, the The Cora P. Maloney Center (CPMC) provides targeted admissions outreach to low-income families through the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Daniel Ackers Scholars Program, and Access to College Excellence Program (ACE).
These programs increase access and opportunity, support orientation and first year student services, enhance academic support and retention to graduation along with offering academic enrichment and undergraduate research to students.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
The New York State Excelsior Scholarship Program helps low-income students pay for their attendance at SUNY schools tuition free.
An applicant must:
-be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;
-be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
-have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
-have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $110,000 or less;
-be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;
be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program;
-if attended college prior to the 2018-19 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;
-be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award;
-be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a NYS award that you have previously received; and
-execute a Contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.
https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/the-excelsior-scholarship.html
Support for Non-Traditional Students
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
While students can take advantage of all federal and state grant and scholarships programs as a part-time student, the university participates with NY in the awarding of the Aid for Part-Time Study Program (APTS) fund. This grant is available to NY residents who are low-income and pursing their education on a part-time basis.
Many of our institutional scholarships are also available to students pursing part-time studies and are awarded to students with overall high financial need.
A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
The University at Buffalo Child Care Center, Inc. (UBCCC) consists of two child care sites located at UB’s North Campus and South Campus of the University at Buffalo (UB). The sites, which are licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYSOCFS), are designed to serve children of UB students, faculty and staff. UBCCC is one of the few centers in Western New York that is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
The child care centers are open year-round and offer both full-time and part-time care and serve the needs of children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years.
UBCCC is a private, not-for-profit organization, dependent primarily upon tuition from parents and special grants from the State University of New York Central and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, culture, national origin or ability.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
UB is committed to serving the needs of our US veterans. The university has designed a centralized service center to assist veterans and in 2014 US News ranked UB as one of the top 25 colleges for veterans: https://www.buffalo.edu/studentlife/who-we-are/departments/veteran.html
Part 2
Yes
The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
33
The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
70.40
On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
50
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
43
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
We do not presently have a way of calculating the percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.