We applaud Fairmont State University’s new Access Scholarship, which will allow West Virginia students from families earning $70,000 or less to attend the school tuition-free.
The program was announced by Fairmont State President Mike Davis, who told WV News that the scholarship is designed to make higher education more attainable for West Virginians who need it most.
About 15% to 17% of the school’s current student body comes from families within that income range.
“A lot of discussions around higher ed are about how much it costs, and as a first-generation college student who was Pell Grant-eligible, I understand the power of a college degree,” Davis said.
“We don’t ever want finances to be the obstacle to students getting a college degree in West Virginia. We started having discussions, and it was a no-brainer. There wasn’t a single person on our staff who spoke up against it, because we know it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
While the initiative will reduce revenue, Davis believes the university is well-positioned to offer the program.
“It will be a decrease in the amount of funds we bring in, but we think this aligns with our mission to provide an affordable option for students in West Virginia who want to earn a college degree,” Davis said.
The model appears to be similar to the “last dollar in” program West Virginia offers for community college students. A student’s financial aid package — including any scholarships, Pell grants or state grants — is calculated first. The Access Scholarship then covers any remaining tuition costs.
Davis told Fairmont News Editor John Mark Shaver that with Pell grants, Promise scholarships and other aid still available for new students, the university expects to cover a relatively small funding gap for eligible recipients. However, he noted that even a $1,000 gap could be a significant burden for students.
Any program that makes college more affordable for West Virginia students is great news. Those involved in creating the Access Scholarship deserve praise for their vision and commitment to expanding higher education opportunities.
You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login.
You must be logged in to rate. Click any rating to login.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
Post a comment as Anonymous Commenter
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.