More than 100 colleges and universities and 40 organizations announced new commitments at the White House summit on college opportunity in Washington on January 16. At the summit, the College of the Holy Cross committed to several programs and initiatives to increase access for low-income and minority students.
Holy Cross committed to further expanding its already robust partnerships with community-based agencies that address issues of access for low income and underrepresented students both locally and nationally. Other initiatives include:
- creating a new position in the financial aid office to better assist low-income families in the financial aid process;
- working to ensure that more low-income students and first generation students succeed on campus by expanding the pre-orientation Odyssey program to include incoming low-income and first generation students;
- expanding the Office of Academic Services and Learning Resources and the writing center to include professionals with particular expertise in working with ELL and ESL students;
- dedicating funds from the comprehensive fundraising campaign to develop a center for quantitative reasoning and other curricular initiatives to support underrepresented populations in science, mathematics and economics.
Existing efforts at Holy Cross supporting opportunity and access include:
- maintaining a need-blind admissions policy, and meeting the full demonstrated need of every regularly admitted student. This year the College awarded 61 percent of the student body with nearly $46 million in financial aid.
- waiving application fees for low-income students.
- partnering with high schools to assist guidance counselors in preparing students to apply to colleges; to provide programing to ensure postsecondary access and success for underrepresented urban youth; and to identify and work with prospects and applicants proactively throughout the admissions process.
- providing under-resourced students with mentoring, tutoring, SAT prep assistance, a summer bridge program, admission partnerships to identify high-achieving low-income students, and dedicated scholarships to students from Worcester.
- awarding four years free tuition to Worcester residents who are admitted to the College and who come from families with incomes below $50,000.
Read more at Commitments to Action on College Opportunity. Holy Cross’ commitment can be found on page 17.
