As we mentioned in last week’s graph, NAICU just provided some new data on 2008-09 Pell grant award recipients in Kentucky.

Collectively, AIKCU institutions served more than 10,000 Pell grant recipients in 2008-09. While the percentages of students receiving Pell varies from campus to campus, overall about 4 in 10 AIKCU students receive Pell grants.

This week’s graph highlights seven AIKCU member institutions where the majority of undergraduates are considered low income. On these campuses, more than half of all undergraduates receive federal Pell grants.

Unfortunately, the myth remains that “private colleges are for rich kids.” The reality is, all of Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities (not just the ones seen in this graph) serve significant numbers of low income students.

Earlier this week President Obama unveiled his budget proposal for fiscal 2011. While much of the focus has been on a freeze in discretionary government spending, Pell grants would see an increase and become an entitlement program. (Read this Inside Higher Ed piece report for further explanation how the budget proposal impacts Pell.)

We have previously explained the importance of Pell to AIKCU students. Historically, about 40 percent of undergraduates across the sector are Pell-eligible. More than 92,000 Kentucky students received over $271 million in Pell grants in 2008-09. This week’s graph illustrates the importance of Pell to students in all sectors of Kentucky postsecondary education - including private nonprofit, public (2 and 4-year), and for-profit institutions.

Sixteen of twenty AIKCU member colleges and universities signed on to participate in the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (commonly referred to as the New GI Bill).

The New GI Bill, which goes into effect August 1, provides for payment of tuition and fees, a housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies for eligible veterans who have served on active military duty since September 11, 2001.  The maximum tuition and fees benefit available under the law is pegged to the level of the in-state charges at the most expensive public institution in a state.

For AIKCU members and other institutions with higher tuition and fees, the new law also creates the “Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program.”  Under the Yellow Ribbon program, the federal government will match, dollar-for-dollar, contributions that colleges and universities make to help veterans cover tuition costs above the maximum in-state public college tuition amount.  Participating colleges had to sign participation agreements by June 15 that specified how the institutional matches will be provided, the maximum amount of individual contributions, and the number of eligible veterans. A complete list of participating Kentucky institutions can be found here.

AIKCU is proud of our campuses’ support of our nation’s veterans and extremely pleased that so many of our campuses have chosen to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. Even though most AIKCU institutions are participating, veterans should not exclude a campus from consideration because it is not a Yellow Ribbon participant. There are many sources of financial aid available to students who wish to enroll at an independent college or university; all potential students, including veterans, are advised to contact the financial aid offices at all institutions they are considering to see what kind of aid may be available.

Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program on the VA’s website.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine University’s director of financial aid, Heather Boutell, has received the 2009 Herb Vescio Distinguished Service Award from the Kentucky Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (KASFAA). Association president Jennifer Cosens Priest presented the award to Boutell during the group’s spring conference this spring in Erlanger, Ky.

The Vescio Award is the association’s most prestigious honor for financial aid professionals, and recognizes an individual’s contributions to the association or the profession.

“Heather wholeheartedly believes in what KASFAA is all about — providing training, networking and other professional development opportunities to financial aid administrators so that we can continually improve our service to students and families,” Priest said. “She is a leader in the financial aid community and is very deserving of KASFAA’s highest award.”

Boutell also serves as president of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA). Only four Kentuckians have been elected as president of the association in its 45-year existence. In her role, she travels to the organization’s nine southern states to present sessions and updates to financial aid administrators to motivate and educate them about trends in the profession. As SASFAA president, she also sits on the board of the national association.

“I am so honored to receive this award,” Boutell said. “Many of my mentors have received this honor, and I am thrilled to be in their company. KASFAA means a great deal to me, because I believe in its mission of providing opportunities, equity, and access for higher education.”

Boutell has worked in financial aid for more than 17 years, beginning her career as a graduate assistant in the office of financial aid at the University of Louisville. During her financial aid career, Boutell also has worked at Sullivan University and at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

Boutell and her staff regularly offer financial aid workshops to parents and families in the Louisville area. The workshops go through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) line-by-line and explain the various state, federal and institutional programs available for college students. She also participates in a Kentucky Educational Television call-in show regarding financial aid eligibility and programs, and has served as an on-air panelist and as a phone bank volunteer for many years.

Courtesy of Bellarmine University. Original here.

As Kentuckians continue to struggle with the current financial crisis, Kentucky’s nonprofit, independent colleges and universities are committed to helping make a college education a reality for recently unemployed Kentuckians.

AIKCU campuses have pledged to make every effort to help the recently unemployed enroll in classes.  Financial aid officers will also work individually with traditional age students whose families have recently experienced a job loss to evaluate their financial situations and secure available financial aid.

Several campuses, including Campbellsville University, Georgetown College, Pikeville College, and St. Catharine College have already announced special initiatives to assist recently unemployed workers. Others, like Thomas More College, have announced that they are committing to providing even more institutional grants and scholarships over the coming year.

Prospective students affected by the financial crisis should contact the financial aid office of the independent college or university they are interested in attending to learn what financial aid may be available.

Financial aid office contact numbers:

Alice Lloyd College:  (606) 368-6058

Asbury College: (859) 858-3511

Bellarmine University: (800) 274-4723; (502) 452-8124

Berea College: 859-985-3310

Brescia University: (270) 686-4253

Campbellsville University: (270) 789-5013

Centre College: (800) 423-6236

Georgetown College: (502) 863-8027; (800) 788-9985

Kentucky Christian University: (800) 522-3181

Kentucky Wesleyan College:  (270) 852-3120

Lindsey Wilson College:  (800) 264-0138

Mid-Continent University: (270) 247-8521

Midway College: (859) 846-5410

Pikeville College:  (606) 218-5251

St. Catharine College:  (859) 336-5082 ext. 1214

Spalding University:  (502) 585-9911 ext. 2240; (800) 869-8941 ext. 2240

Thomas More College:  (859) 344-3319

Transylvania University:  (859) 233-8239; (800) 872-6798

Union College:  (800) 489-8646; (606) 546-1657

University of the Cumberlands:  (800) 343-1609, ext. 4220

Part of over $2 million UPS providing to private colleges nationwide

Frankfort, KY -  The UPS Foundation of Atlanta, GA, recently delivered a grant of $58,000 to the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU), which will distribute funds to its twenty member colleges for UPS Scholarships. The UPS Foundation, in cooperation with the Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE) of Washington, DC, recently announced that more than $2 million in grants will be awarded this year to benefit private colleges and universities across the nation.

“We’re extremely grateful for the UPS Foundation’s ongoing support of independent higher education in Kentucky and across the nation,” said AIKCU President Gary S. Cox. “The support of private foundations like UPS is always critical for students, but it is particularly important in today’s financial environment. We appreciate their commitment to ensuring students have access to a high quality independent college education .”

Throughout the nation, 612 private colleges will receive a UPS Scholarship, which will be dispersed to students who are selected as UPS Scholars.  Institutions select the students to receive the scholarships based on the criteria of financial need and academic achievement.

In addition to the nearly $1.8 million designated for scholarships, over $430,000 will be used for grants to support innovative programs designed to improve educational services for students, broaden access to college, and encourage collaboration among colleges.  Grants are awarded to FIHE state partners through a competitive matching grant program called the UPS National Venture Fund.  Traditionally, the matching support exceeds the required one-to-one match.   In fact, since the program’s inception in 1999, the $5 million awarded was matched by local donors with $11 million in gifts, resulting in a total economic impact that exceeds $16 million

The UPS scholarships and grants are funded by the UPS Educational Endowment Fund, which is held and administered by FIHE and was originally funded through grants to FIHE from the United Parcel Service (UPS).   The UPS Educational Endowment Fund, established in 1974, has generated over $42 million in scholarship support and has a current value of approximately $41 million.

In announcing the grants, Lisa Hamilton, President of The UPS Foundation, said “Our young people, our communities and our workforce all benefit from the increased educational opportunities that FIHE provides. The UPS Foundation is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with FIHE to support this meaningful and sustainable program.”

The Foundation for Independent Higher Education is the national partner in a network of 33 state and regional funds, including the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, which develop resources for private colleges and universities.  Since its founding in 1958, FIHE and its partners have received more than $1.5 billion in support for private colleges.

Members of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities include Alice Lloyd College, Asbury College, Bellarmine University, Berea College, Brescia University, Campbellsville University, Centre College, Georgetown College, Kentucky Christian University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Lindsey Wilson College, Mid-Continent University, Midway College, Pikeville College, St. Catharine College, Spalding University, Thomas More College, Transylvania University, Union College, and University of the Cumberlands.

The Affordability Subcommittee of the Governor’s Higher Education Work Group will meet on Tuesday, December 2, at 3 PM in room 169 of the Capitol Annex in Frankfort. AIKCU President Gary Cox serves on both the Affordability and Strategic Planning subcommittees of the Work Group.

For a complete schedule and meeting materials, visit the Work Group webpage: http://www.finance.ky.gov/hewgov.htm

Governor Steve Beshear announced yesterday the formation of a new 25-member task force to study affordability and access to Kentucky higher education.

The Higher Education Work Group will be co-chaired by prominent business leaders Mira Ball of Lexington and Pete Mahurin of Bowling Green.  Other work group members include business leaders, senior governmental officials and members from both houses of the state legislature.

AIKCU President Gary S. Cox was named to the group, along with the presidents of CPE and KHEAA, to represent higher education.

University presidents from across the state will advise the work group, including three AIKCU member presidents: Larry D. Shinn, Berea College; Michael V. Carter, Campbellsville University; and Cheryl D. King, Kentucky Wesleyan University.

The work group has been charged by Governor Beshear with developing two reports. The first, due in January 2009, is to look at ways to reduce the costs associated with college. The second report is due in September 2009 and will look at long term strategies for creating stable funding for public higher education.  how “best to create stable state funding for public higher education.”

Read the full press release and view the Governor’s Executive Order here.

Additional coverage in the Courier-Journal.

Georgetown College and the University of Kentucky’s medical school have announced a new partnership to prepare minority students for careers in medicine. Under the partnership, Georgetown will begin identifying talented minority students in middle school, providing them support and access to professionals in the medical field who can serve as inspiration and mentors. The goal is to produce two Georgetown graduates each year who qualify for and earn admission to UK’s medical school. UK will provide financial assistance to help the students further their education after they graduate from Georgetown.

From “Partnership to groom minority med students” in the Lexington Herald-Leader, by Art Jester:

Jay Perman, dean of the UK College of Medicine, said that UK and Georgetown have created a “model of collaboration between two higher-education institutions.”

“Our hope is to motivate students to pursue a medical career before they start high school so they can begin to prepare for their medical education early by taking all of the appropriate courses,” he said. “But more importantly, our hope is to inspire them and equip them with the skills needed to make their dream of a medical career a reality.”

William H. Crouch Jr., president of Georgetown College, said the partnership with UK will be a “new ray of hope” to minority students who might dismiss their medical ambitions because of the high cost of education.

“Their focus can be on learning, not anxiety over finances,” Crouch said.

This partnership is the latest in a series of Georgetown College efforts to increase the diversity of the college’s student body under the leadership of President Crouch.

Centre students meet with legislators to discuss state-funded financial aid programs (Centre.edu)

DANVILLE, KY—Financial aid is a key factor in the decision-making process for many high school students embarking on their search for the right college. With possible cuts to educational funding in Kentucky’s proposed budget for the coming year, aid programs such as the Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), the College Access Program (CAP) and the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship Program (KEES) all could face reductions in the next fiscal year.

In the support of continued funding for these programs, Milton Reigelman, J. Rice Cowan Professor of English; Ned Frazer, associate director of admission; and eight Centre students who receive benefits from state-funded student aid participated in the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 13, in Frankfort.

Despite a widespread blanket of ice and snow, the group made their way to the state’s capitol to meet with legislators. State-funded aid programs enable the students on the trip, as well as many others, to attend Centre College without the threat of excessive loan repayments after graduation.

Kyle Longton ‘08, of Louisville, has depended on merit and need-based financial aid for all four years of his Centre education.

“While the College provides me with significant support, I’ve also received state grants,” Longton says. “My KEES Scholarship money was one of the reasons I stayed in Kentucky for college, and I’ve been able to keep full funding all four years.”

Longton says he fears that reduced funding to KEES will result in more students leaving the Commonwealth with fewer benefits for staying. He says, “We could see not only a financial drain, but also a brain drain.”

This possibility is also alarming to Reigelman, who says that Kentucky spends only four percent of its educational funding on private higher education, versus 96 percent for public schools. But that small percentage is still important to Centre students who, he says, rely heavily on the Kentucky Tuition Grant program and the KEES money they’ve earned.

Morgan Lynn ‘11, of Marion, Ky., looks at the larger picture. “Student aid from the state makes it possible, and definitely easier, for students to bear the burden of rising tuition costs at private colleges,” she says. “In turn, students in small liberal arts schools like Centre go on to become highly motivated, productive members of society.” Continue reading the full article.