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#1 -- Access and Affordability
As the State’s only publicly supported
research university, the University of Rhode Island is charged with
providing an opportunity to state residents for undergraduate and
graduate study at a land grant, research university. In order to offer
a wide range of programs and bring additional diversity to the
academic community, the University also enrolls a significant number
of out of state students. Because of the University’s mission, the
admissions policy is "selective" in that only students
judged prepared for university-level study are granted regular
admissions. In response, however, to the charge of accessibility and
affordability and recognizing the increasing educational diversity of
potential students, the University maintains several programs for
special populations and has started several new initiatives as well.
In addition to its traditional menu of financial aid programs, the
University has the following special programs aimed at increasing
access and affordability.
The University has worked with the Office
of Higher Education to keep its tuition and fee rates affordable and
competitive. Increases have averaged just over 3% in the last five
years compared with significantly higher increases in the eighties.
Key Initiatives (Ongoing)
·
Articulation Transfer Programs. The University supports and
participates in the Board of Governors’
Articulation Transfer Program. In addition, the University has an
agreement with the SUNY System in the area of the environment and life
sciences, and continues to explore similar arrangements with other
institutions.
·
Minority Recruiting. The Office of Admissions has initiated numerous
recruitment activities to increase minority enrollment. Activities
include presentations at college fairs, participation in high school
career days, phonathons, and targeted mailings. Admissions staff
attended over 30 events in-state and out-of-state and visited 15
out-of-state high schools with significant minority populations.
·
Feinstein Scholars. Income from an endowment provides support for
undergraduates at the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing
Education (ASFCCE). The urban setting of ASFCCE combined with its
mission creates a student body that is unique in its diversity. The
student body is comprised of individuals who are significantly
different from the more traditional students who make up the majority
of the Kingston campus undergraduate student body. Scholarships
targeted for ASFCCE serve single parents; GED and students whose
primary language is not English; and non-traditional as well as
academically challenged and returning students.
·
Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP). This program has been functioning for
over ten years under the leadership of the University’s Urban Field Center in Providence. Its purpose is to promote an early
identification of middle school age children in the greater Providence
schools who show academic promise but who could be potential school
dropouts. These students receive special attention throughout junior
high school to ensure that they follow a pre-college preparatory
program of study. At the completion of the ninth grade, they are
invited to participate in a summer component of the GAP program.
During their sophomore year in high school they attend a contract
signing program in their community where they join with their high
school principals, their parent or guardian, and the University’s Dean of Admissions and actually sign a contract that includes the
following:
Students in the program must maintain a C+ average, attend workshops,
participate in support programs and have a good attendance record. The
parents must support the students in these activities. The University
guarantees those students who fulfill these commitments a place in the
freshman class. University representatives work with the students
during their high school careers to ensure that they select the
appropriate courses and learn about the University and its
opportunities.
·
Academic Initiatives in Support of Diversity.
A Faculty Senate appointed subcommittee of the University College and
General Education Committee (UCGE) developed a plan to address the
formal inclusion of diversity in the General Education Program. That
plan is currently being reviewed by the whole of UCGE Committee and a
smaller task force is working on an implementation proposal with the
goal of presenting it by the end of this academic year. The University appointed five new minority
teaching staff members for the current academic year. In addition, a
Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence was appointed as Director of the
Center for Non-Violence and Peace Studies. Diversifying the faculty
and supporting these faculty remain high priorities for the
University.
·
Centennial Scholarship Program. This program is an academic merit
scholarship based upon a combination of high school class rank or
cumulative quality point average (QPA) and standardized test scores.
Applicants must have a completed application for admission in the
Office of Admission by December 15, to be considered for an award.
Awards pertain to tuition only and range from $1000 to full tuition,
guaranteed renewable each semester as long as the recipient maintains
a cumulative quality point average of 3.0, and full time enrollment.
Currently, more than 1550 Centennial Scholars are enrolled throughout
the University. Approximately 23% of each new Freshmen Class consists
of Centennial Scholars.
·
Learning Assistance Center. This Center provides both individual and group
study skills assistance including workshops (reading and memory,
efficient notetaking, time management, strategies for success),
individual tutoring, and group tutoring for identified high-risk
courses. Approximately seven hundred students use the services each
semester. They attend on a voluntary basis, and students on probation
are strongly encouraged to use the services which are designed
specifically for them. A major emphasis of the workshops is to aid new
students in making a successful transition from high school to
college.
·
Special Programs for Talent Development (SPTD).
SPTD encourages applications from socially, economically and
culturally disadvantaged individuals from Rhode Island. To encourage
applications from such applicants, the University has instituted
recruiting and prematriculation programs. In addition, students
admitted to SPTD with financial need are eligible for financial aid.
This program not only provides assistance to identified individuals
with academic promise, but also assists the University in meeting its
goal of diversifying the student body. While some SPTD students are
white, the majority are African American, Hispanic, Asian, Cape
Verdean or Native American.
Indicators of Success for 1999-2000
The University is enjoying two major shifts as a result of efforts to
increase accessibility and affordability: 1) the Centennial Scholars
Program; and 2) the emphasis on diversity. For the past few years the
Centennial Scholars academic profile has reflected an SAT average of
1240 and a top 13% high school class rank. Our Centennial Scholars
have significantly influenced the academic culture in the classroom
and on the campus. The percentage of minority students in incoming
freshman classes has risen from 10.3% in 1995 to 11.4% in 1999. This
increase in diversity is creating a richer cultural environment
complementary to the enriched intellectual environment. These two
factors frequently overlap in the activities and accomplishments of
groups and individuals.
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