Office of University Communications
Details on Missouri State Promise now on web
Date: February 1, 2007
Contact: Dr. Michael Nietzel, (417) 836-8500
Don Simpson, (417) 836-5521
Dr. Earle Doman, (417) 836-5526
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Details for the new Missouri State Promise Scholarship are now on the web site of Missouri State University. Included are a program description, policies and frequently asked questions. The web site is: www.missouristate.edu/promise.
The new scholarship program, designed to assist the university’s neediest students – those at or below the poverty level – was announced Jan. 19. The program is expected to impact at least 150 students the first year. When fully implemented, the program is expected to include 600-700 students and cost more than $1 million annually.
Beginning in the fall of 2007, first time freshmen and associate-degreed transfer students on the Springfield Campus who are at or below the poverty level and meet other criteria in the policy will receive a Missouri State Promise Scholarship. This award will pay the difference between the cost of tuition and required fees and any grant or gift aid the student receives, such as a Pell Grant and scholarships. In addition, the university will provide recipients up to $800 annually for books.
In short, students who are at or below the poverty level should not need to pay a cent nor take out any loans for tuition, fees and books for a basic 125-credit hour degree at Missouri State – four years for incoming freshmen and two years for transfer students. The Missouri State Promise, however, doesn’t cover the entire cost.
“The Missouri State Promise provides tuition, not a free ride,” says Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “Students who receive the Missouri State Promise will still be responsible for covering their living expenses – housing, food and incidental expenses – and often the living expenses of the families they help support. Consequently, the recipients of this scholarship will still need to work and/or take out loans to make ends meet. What the Missouri Promise Scholarship will do is reduce the amount of loans, maybe reduce the work from two jobs to one, and provide assistance that leads to a college education being affordable for our neediest students.
“Remember the sobering fact driving this program: A student from a low-income family is seven times less likely to complete a baccalaureate degree or higher than a student from a high-income family. Clearly, we need to improve access and increase affordability. This program helps do that.”
Statistics show that Missouri State’s current financial aid package does not adequately address students at or below the poverty level.
“We have a substantial university-based financial aid program,” said Dr. Earle Doman, acting vice president for student affairs, “but most of that aid is merit-based, not need-based. Only about 3 percent currently goes to students at or below the poverty level. We believe the Missouri State Promise is an important step to providing more aid for this needy group of students.”
To be eligible for the Missouri State Promise Scholarship, first-time freshmen must be Missouri residents and must meet the university’s admission standards. Transfer students must be Missouri residents from Missouri community colleges who have an associate degree.
To qualify, students must be from families that are at or below the poverty level as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Students must meet admission requirements for the Springfield Campus, apply for admission by March 1, and meet the financial aid priority application deadline of March 31.
Incoming freshmen will be eligible to receive the scholarship for four years, provided they continue to meet academic and financial aid requirements. Transfer students will be eligible to receive the scholarship for two years, provided they continue to meet the academic and financial aid requirements.
The typical scholarship will cover tuition and required fees for 15 credit hours for both fall and spring semesters, and up to $800 per year for books.
Within a few weeks, Nietzel intends to announce the names of private individuals, businesses and corporations who have made a commitment to invest in this program.
For more information, contact the office of financial aid at (417) 836-5262 or (800) 283-4243.