New Program helps
students pay for college

The University of Montana has unveiled a $1.3 million, two-year pilot project to help modest- and low-income Montanans pay for college at either of its Missoula campuses.

MPACT – Montana Partnering for an Affordable College Tuition, targets recent high school graduates with respectable academic records and family incomes at or below the median level in Montana. Students with a high school Grade Point Average of 3.00 and an ACT score of at least 25 can enroll in bachelor’s degree programs, while a student with a 2.5 GPA can enroll in College of Technology programs.

Students eligible for MPACT will receive a financial-aid package designed to make the basic costs of attending college – tuition, fees, room and board, and books – affordable. The package includes an MPACT award for as much as $2,000 per year (based on expected family contribution) renewable for four years at UM or two years at the College of Technology; an institutional grant of $800 per year; a work-study award of $2,000 earned through employment; and a Pell Grant.

UM will allocate institutional funds from contingency accounts to test the program during its initial two years, beginning fall semester 2006. If the program proves successful, UM officials hope to convince the state Board of Regents to develop a systemwide initiative seeking state matching funds during the 2007 Montana Legislature.

President George Dennison created the program to address access and affordability for Montana students.

Those who think they might qualify for MPACT assistance may call UM’s Enrollment Services at (800) 462-8636 to apply. They also must meet the Feb. 15, 2006, filing deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To find out more about MPACT, visit http://www.umt.edu/mpact.