UAFS announces tuition and fee support program

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on Monday (March 24) announced a tuition and fee aid program primarily targeted at the 60% of students who receive federal help but may need a bit more to make the “UAFS experience financially attainable.”

The UAFS Tuition and Mandatory Fee Guarantee is billed as a “last-dollar scholarship program” crafted to help eligible students cover costs remaining after scholarships, federal Pell Grants, and other forms of financial aid are applied.

“We have strategically assessed our financial aid awarding structure over the past two years, because we believe that cost should never be the reason someone doesn’t choose UAFS,” Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley said in a statement to Talk Business & Politics. “With the UAFS Guarantee, we’re making an even clearer statement: For degree-seeking students who are eligible for Pell Grants and the Arkansas Academic Challenge, UAFS will fully cover tuition and mandatory fees as long as you’re making satisfactory academic progress.”

Following are eligibility requirements for the new program.

• A student must be an Arkansas resident and high school graduate or GED recipient.
• A student must apply as a UAFS degree-seeking undergraduate or be a current degree-seeking student.
• An eligible student must be in receipt of a Pell Grant.
• An eligible student must have received the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Link here for a complete review of eligibility requirements and the application process.

Riley said the program is part of several student aid and support efforts, and UAFS officials have structured assistance to avoid a negative impact on the institution’s finances.

“We believe this is the right thing to do for one of our largest populations: Pell-eligible Arkansans,” Riley said. “We also know that in the current economy, major changes like this must be thoughtful and well-planned. … By rolling these changes out in tandem, this change is expected to be completely budget neutral, despite the number of students who will now be able to come to UAFS with no out-of-pocket tuition or mandatory fee costs.”

Brooke Magallanes, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management and director of admission, said the new program also helps UAFS be attractive to potential students who are comparing costs and aid support with other institutions.

“We have seen a rise in the number of universities offering last-dollar programs across our recruitment area, so creating one of our own certainly helps us remain competitive,” she said.

Magallanes said the program also was designed to help students spend more time studying and less time working to pay for college.

“The UAFS Guarantee offers peace of mind to students and their families, which we hope will also result in better retention and completion of degrees,” she said.

UAFS has about 850 employees and about 5,500 students. The university includes a College of Arts and Sciences; College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences; and College of Business and Industry.