University of New Hampshire
PA-8: Affordability and Access

McNair Program: Congress established the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program in 1986 to honor the memory of the Challenger astronaut and noted laser physicist. This graduate school preparation program is part of the federal TRIO programs (Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Educational Opportunity Centers) and is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Education (USED). The USED provides monies to selected institutions through competitive grants as part of its efforts to increase the number of individuals from underrepresented groups (low-income, first-generation, and/or racial minority) who are interested in pursuing and obtaining doctoral degrees and careers in academia. The McNair Program at the University of New Hampshire aims to promote and nurture the next generation of faculty, researchers, and scholars by providing academic and social support services in the form of academic year internships and summer research fellowships. The university has been home to the McNair Scholars Program since 1991. The program’s academic internships and summer fellowships are awarded annually, on a competitive basis, to eligible undergraduates. http://www.unh.edu/mcnair/about.html

UNH Student & Academic Services offers a workshop for faculty and staff titled, "Working with Low-income, First-Generation College Students." This one-and-a-half hour workshop identifies issues distinctive to the 40% of UNH undergraduates who are low-income students and/or among the first in their families on the college track. From this interactive workshop participants will take away insights, tools, and resources for teaching, advising, counseling, and working with this population.

The University of New Hampshire Upward Bound program is one of over 700 Upward Bound programs nationwide that help eligible high school students achieve their dreams of going on to and being successful in higher education. The students that Upward Bound serves must come from low-income families (with incomes at or below 150% of poverty) and/or are first generation potential college students (neither parent/guardian has earned a bachelor's degree). The University of New Hampshire has successfully sponsored an Upward Bound project since 1966. A federal TRIO program, UNH Upward Bound is 100% funded by the US Department of Education through a competitive grant competition every four years. As one of only two Upward Bound projects in New Hampshire, UNH Upward Bound serves 91 students in six high schools located in southern and eastern New Hampshire. The purpose of Upward Bound (UB) is to provide its high school students with the skills and motivation to succeed in and graduate from a college or university of their choice. To that end, UB has both summer and academic year components. http://www.upwardbound.unh.edu/

New Hampshire leads the nation in percentage of students attending college from low-income families. In the Granite state, it’s 39 percent, compared to 26 percent nationally. Even though New Hampshire has some of the highest tuition prices in the country, UNH works hard to make education affordable and accessible for all students, whether in-state or out-of-state. The University System of New Hampshire has increased financial aid funding by an average of 15 percent in the last nine years. Less than 14 percent of UNH’s budget comes from the state. At the same time, 82 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid. The Thomas Trout Scholarship is available to students who have shown the need for financial assistance through FAFSA. The scholarship is named in memory a UNH linguistics professor. Throughout his career, Trout actively and tirelessly promoted international studies as a vital part of the college curriculum. He was equally dedicated to the development of study abroad programs for undergraduates, convinced that expanding the range of international study opportunities for American college students was integral to their understanding of a complicated world. The fund supports academically outstanding College of Liberal Arts students, allowing them to participate in a UNH-managed study abroad program in the college. Examples of student stories of low-income families who have received the scholarship can be viewed here: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100629/GJCOMMUNITY_01/706299989/0/FOSCOMMUNITY16

The UNH Parents Association is the central resource of all parents of UNH students. Parents are automatically members of the UNH Parents Association, which connects parents to campus life in positive, creative ways. The Parents Association provides a host of resources and information to parents regarding student services, life on campus, transitioning to college, student rules, health and safety, and visiting UNH.

An example of UNH's commitment to making higher education affordable and accessible to students of low-income families is a program called Educational Talent Search. The mission of Educational Talent Search is to encourage academically qualified limited income, first generation New Hampshire youth to complete secondary school and undertake a program of postsecondary education. By providing academic advising, career, college and financial aid information, ETS increases educational opportunities for these youth. More information on ETS is available here: http://www.ets.unh.edu/

The Connect STEM program is designed to support the academic, professional, and cultural development of multicultural, first-generation, and low-income students and other students traditionally underrepesented at the University of New Hampshire with an ultimate objective of increasing retention and graduation rates. Through hands-on projects conducted by participants under the direction of UNH faculty and graduate students, Connect STEM introduces the excitement and skills necessary for new students to be successful in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors at UNH. The program includes a year long mentor/mentee partnership which helps engage students with their coursework, provides professional development through networking and internships, explores future employment opportunities, and prepares for graduate and professional education. Programming offered throughout the year enriches participant's connection to the UNH community and its academic life. Connect STEM begins with a two week program prior to the beginning of the fall semester. http://www.unh.edu/connect/connect-stem

At the graduate level, the UNH Graduate School awards various scholarships and fellowships to students every year. Currently we offer merit, full-time and part-time scholarships along with dissertation fellowships and summer fellowships for teaching assistants.

UNH Counseling Center: http://www.unhcc.unh.edu/non-traditional-students UNH Office of Commuter & Non-Traditional Student Services: http://www.unhmub.com/involvement-leadership/office-student-involvement-leadership/commuter-services http://www.unhmub.com/sites/default/files/attachments/Non-Traditional%20Student%20Brochure.pdf

In addition to the programs listed above, see also UNH Parents Association: http://www.unh.edu/parents/ UNH Financial Aid Office: http://financialaid.unh.edu