Strategy 5.3.2 (Scholarship and Waivers)
Increase access to scholarship and waiver opportunities among underrepresented student populations.
Owners/Accountable Party
- Vice President for Enrollment
- CEO of UM Foundation
Actions
Near-term Actions
- Actively advertise scholarships to students from underrepresented populations, e.g., advertise in places frequented by those populations we hope to attract and support
- Better communicate regarding the American Indian waiver, Veterans waiver, etc.
- Perform a comprehensive review of waivers and develop a plan to use institutional waivers more strategically
- UM Foundation to collaborate with executive leadership to articulate the case for need-based and unrestricted scholarships to campus leaders, alumni, prospective donors, and other stakeholders to foster greater understanding and alignment around the importance of need-based and unrestricted financial aid to efficiently meet the access needs of all students and especially underrepresented students.
- UM Foundation and UM to deploy public messaging and enhanced fundraising efforts for need-based and unrestricted scholarships.
Future Actions
Completed and Ongoing Actions
- Implemented Grizzly Promise to provide all Montanans who come from a family that makes $50,000 or less with access to UM education tuition-free.
- Implemented Payne Impact Scholars to support students with significant financial need but who fall outside the Federal Pell Grant eligibility.
- Launched advertising campaign targeting Montana students and parents focused on Grizzly Promise