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More financial aid likely coming to Appalachian |
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Thursday, 11 January 2007 |
by JAMISON DORAN
News Reporter
Appalachian State University is working to start a program that will help low-income students graduate with little or no debt.
The
program, which will be the third of its kind in North Carolina,
reflects a “national effort to help needy students,” Vice Chancellor
for Student Development Cindy A. Wallace said.
Appalachian ACCESS will be open to in-state students who come from
households that live at no more than 100 percent of the poverty level.
It hopes to cover tuition, housing, fees and include a $1,000 yearly
stipend.
“We have been looking to start a program like this for years and we’re very excited about it,” Wallace said.
About 58 students would have met the poverty guidelines for this program last year.
Robert K. Feid, student financial manager, worked hard with others to help make this program a reality.
While Appalachian remains an affordable university, it is important to
remember that what may be affordable to one family may not be to
another, Feid said.
Appalachian hopes to start the program with the freshmen coming in this
fall, and the university raised nearly enough money to cover the costs
for the first year, Wallace said.
The university estimates it will cost about $75,000 for the first year
and roughly $250,000 when there are four years of students who are
using the program.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina
State University both have similar programs to the one Appalachian
hopes to add.
Chapel Hill’s program, which is called the Carolina Covenant, received national attention.
The program has been in place for three years and more than 300 of the
students come from homes that are at 200 percent of last year’s poverty
level.
N.C. State’s program, called the Pack Promise, pays for school through
federal and state grants and a work-study program. Students can also
take out a loan of no more than $2,500 a year.
Students in the Pack Promise program cannot come from homes that live at more than 150 percent of the poverty level.
The Appalachian ACCESS program will combine elements from both of these programs, but has elements that are all its own.
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