Paid tuition for selected freshman
By: Leah Cooper, Managing Editor
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: News
High school seniors who come from low-income families could have their tuition and fees paid for with ASU's new Blue and Gold Tuition Guarantee.
Beginning fall 2009, any freshman who qualifies for the federal Pell Grant is eligible to apply for this program if their parents' combined adjusted gross income is $40,000 or less.
"The bottom line is to help students get a college education," said Fred Dietz, executive director of Enrollment Management. Dietz said that students who were once unable to attend college because of lack of financial resources no longer have this as an excuse.
To be accepted for the program students must meet the following requirements:
Students must be a Texas resident who is entering college for the first time. They must also complete all financial aid application requirements by April 1 of that year. Transfer students are ineligible for the program.
Dietz said the money to finance the Blue and Gold Guarantee comes from institutional funding the president designates for this purpose.
"When students file the FASFA, they will be informed if they are eligible for the federally funded Pell Grant," Dietz said.
According to the U. S. Department of Education, the Pell Grant "provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education."
The program will allow funding for eight consecutive semesters. This means that a student cannot use the program for the fall semester, take off the spring and return back the following fall expecting to receive the same funding.
The Blue and Gold Guarantee is aimed at attracting and retaining incoming freshmen for next fall, and if successful, in future years as well.
Dietz said that ASU is always talking about incentives for currently enrolled students; however, the Blue and Gold Guarantee is not applicable to those individuals.
"We are looking at those opportunities," Dietz said. "There just isn't enough funding."
Beginning fall 2009, any freshman who qualifies for the federal Pell Grant is eligible to apply for this program if their parents' combined adjusted gross income is $40,000 or less.
"The bottom line is to help students get a college education," said Fred Dietz, executive director of Enrollment Management. Dietz said that students who were once unable to attend college because of lack of financial resources no longer have this as an excuse.
To be accepted for the program students must meet the following requirements:
Students must be a Texas resident who is entering college for the first time. They must also complete all financial aid application requirements by April 1 of that year. Transfer students are ineligible for the program.
Dietz said the money to finance the Blue and Gold Guarantee comes from institutional funding the president designates for this purpose.
"When students file the FASFA, they will be informed if they are eligible for the federally funded Pell Grant," Dietz said.
According to the U. S. Department of Education, the Pell Grant "provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education."
The program will allow funding for eight consecutive semesters. This means that a student cannot use the program for the fall semester, take off the spring and return back the following fall expecting to receive the same funding.
The Blue and Gold Guarantee is aimed at attracting and retaining incoming freshmen for next fall, and if successful, in future years as well.
Dietz said that ASU is always talking about incentives for currently enrolled students; however, the Blue and Gold Guarantee is not applicable to those individuals.
"We are looking at those opportunities," Dietz said. "There just isn't enough funding."
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