By KYLE ODEGARD
| Posted: Friday, April 18, 2008 12:00 am
Gazette-Times reporter
Oregon State University is leveraging state and federal financial aid packages in a new program that will allow 10 percent of its in-state students - about 1,500 people - to attend the university without paying tuition or fees.
"We're pretty excited. Tuition costs and the costs associated with a college education are pretty daunting for many of our students," said OSU President Ed Ray. "Some pretty
extraordinary people come from pretty ordinary circumstances, and they need help to get their education. But then they accomplish extraordinary things."
The program, called "Bridge to Success," starts this fall, and students already at OSU would be eligible.
The university is identifying students with the greatest need who would qualify for the additional grant money. The aid would not have to be repaid.
Award amounts will vary, but could be as much as $4,800 annually on top of federal and state financial aid, said Emilio Vejil, OSU director of financial aid.
Tuition and fees for three terms next year is expected to total about $6,125, he added.
OSU would contribute about one-third of the funds necessary for the program. For next year, that could be $3.1 million out of the approximately $9.2 million necessary to enable the selected students to attend the university without paying tuition and fees, Vejil said.
Students eligible for the program must also receive Pell Grant and Oregon Opportunity Grant funds. Some money also could come from other federal grants. University money from the Campaign for OSU and institutional funds will be added to that, said Todd Simmons, assistant vice president of university advancement for OSU.
The program could grow in subsequent years, helping more students, he added.
"Half the students who qualify will also qualify for additional money for books and supplies," Simmons said. That would be about $1,500, Vejil said.
Determination for books and supplies, along with the rest of the Bridge to Success program, will be made based on financial need.
There is no family income ceiling regarding the Pell Grants, which are awarded based on a formula that includes the number of college students in a family, the number of dependents and other factors. A student from a family of four with an income of as much as $70,000 could get Oregon Opportunity Grant assistance.
Students interviewed Thursday afternoon generally had positive reactions when they learned about the new program. "Anything that helps people go to college is a good thing," said Shayna Rogers, 20, of Corvallis.
"I know a lot of people who are putting themselves through college. It's really stressful on them and their families," said Hannah Dahl, 20, of Oregon City.
Some, however, wanted more details about where the money was coming from, and if that might impact current students.
Jack Smoot of Corvallis, who joined the Air Force to help pay for college, wasn't so sure about the worth of a free education.
"You have to work yourself here. If it's handed to you, how far does that go?" he asked.
Late last year, the University of Oregon announced that it would launch a program called PathwayOregon to allow lower-income students to attend UO tuition free.
PathwayOregon was the first such program for a public university in Oregon.
Elizabeth Bickford, director of the office of student financial aid and scholarships at the University of Oregon, expected about 400 freshmen would benefit from the PathwayOregon program next year, but there could be more. "We don't have a cap. If you qualify, you are in," she said.
As many of 30 of those students also would receive free housing.
Bickford said that in four years, there should be about 1,600 students under PathwayOregon. She estimated the University of Oregon at that time would be paying about $3 million for tuition under the program.
According to the Associated Press, colleges across the country have similar programs in place, but the practice is far more common at selective private schools, such as Harvard or Princeton.
Only a few other public universities, including the University of Washington and the University of North Carolina, have such programs, according to the Associated Press.
At the University of Oregon, students have to apply for PathwayOregon.
That isn't the case at OSU.
Kate Peterson, assistant provost for enrollment management at OSU, said students here won't need to complete any additional financial aid forms, and automatically will be considered.
"We are asking that they take 15 credits every term to encourage students to complete their degree within four years," she added.
Consistent progress toward a degree is required.
Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.