UT Launches Financial Aid Programs to Boost Grad Rates
The University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday announced $5 million worth of new financial aid programs specifically designed to help boost the institution's four-year graduation rates.
Bill Powers, the university president, has set an ambitious goal of increasing the four-year rate to 70 percent by 2016. That's up from about 51 percent in 2011.
David Laude, UT's senior vice provost for enrollment and graduation management, said that if the four new pilot programs prove successful, they could alter the institution's entire financial aid strategy.
Currently, much the school's available financial aid funding is used ...
Comments (3)
Jamie Barnes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This sounds like the initiative of some second-tier university. Why would a flagship state university -- considered one of the best public national research schools in the country -- not simply become more selective in admissions? That would take care of graduation rates. Sounds to me like UT's selectivity is high for students on scholarship and aid, but maybe not so much if you're willing to pay full tuition.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jamie, UT is already highly selective in its admissions. In fact, it's so selective, it can't even meet it's obligation under Texas law to admit top 10% - not enough spots. The problem isn't with admissions, it's with the challenges facing students that directly impact their retention and with the reduction of student financial aid available to students, esp scholarships, grants and student work study. Too many students have to work to support their education, and with cuts in financial aid, many of them are having to work more hours and reduce their school load. Students have families they have to support, they have other factors outside of school that affect their school loads. It's a complicated problem, one that UT is trying to address in a variety of ways.
V Marshall
Renee, I get the impression that you are employed at UT. You mention UT's reduction in available aid. As a former financial supporter of the scholarship program in the Engineering Dept., I would suggest that UT's policies might have a direct impact on donations. Until this year, I gave equal donations to the scholarship funds of both my children's universities. This year I gave the UT portion to Rice as well. I am a big supporter of access to higher education. I myself was once a "disadvantaged" rural child who would have been grateful for a grant or scholarship to ease my financial burden. I started working before I was 14 to save for my college education, and that is an opportunity that is no longer available to striving kids so scholarships are more critical than ever. But because I was that poor rural child but eventually an affluent adult, I disagree strongly with UT's current "priorities" in both admissions and financial aid.