December 5, 2007
Graduates of Rochester public high schools who enroll at the University of Rochester stand to receive up to $100,000 over four years to cover the cost of tuition, under a new plan to expand higher education opportunities for talented students in the University’s home city.
The Rochester Promise initiative, which will be available to applicants for the 2008-09 academic year, will offer a $25,000 tuition benefit annually to University undergraduate students who earned their high school diploma in the Rochester City School District.
The University has committed at least $1 million annually to the initiative, enough to aid up to 40 students a year who might otherwise have considered a degree from the University of Rochester out of their financial reach. Should the number of students increase beyond the current funding level, funding will be revised accordingly to ensure that every deserving student receives the $25,000 benefit.
To be eligible for the award, students must have attended a district high school for the entirety of their junior and senior years. The award is also available for college students who transfer to the University and meet the RCSD attendance requirement.
“This initiative will make it possible for so many more promising young students to aspire to the highest quality education they can achieve,” said University President Joel Seligman, who unveiled the Rochester Promise plan at a press conference today in the University’s Office of Admissions. “Rochester Promise reinforces the University of Rochester’s longstanding commitment to our city and fostering quality education and exciting opportunities in its public schools.”
The benefit is neither a scholarship nor need-based financial aid, according to Director of Admissions Jonathan Burdick, but rather a reward for graduates of Rochester public high schools who have proven they can make the grade by meeting admissions requirements at the University. Recipients may also apply for financial aid based on need and merit from multiple sources.
“Students excelling in our city schools can bring a critical and valuable perspective to campus,” Burdick said. “But for many, the financial barriers to universities like Rochester have become discouraging. I hope this pledge will make it easier for both current seniors and future graduates to become excited about the prospect of attending one of the country’s leading universities in their hometown.”
In addition to the tuition commitment, the University will waive its application processing fee for students at Rochester city public schools. The fee is $50 for applications sent by mail and $20 for those filed online.
Rochester Promise is the University’s second tuition benefit program set aside specifically for RCSD students. In 2004, the University began offering full-tuition scholarships to graduates of the International Baccalaureate Programme at Wilson Magnet High School in the RCSD.
It is also the second University initiative announced in recent weeks that is aimed at supporting the college aspirations of RCSD students.
In October, the University launched two new Upward Bound programs funded by a $2 million grant from the United States Department of Education that will expose as many as 100 district students to college life over four years.
The RCSD will assist in distributing information about the Rochester Promise plan and in identifying potential students for the initiative.
“Through Rochester Promise, the University of Rochester is opening its doors wider than ever before to our students,” said Rochester Interim Superintendent of Schools William C. Cala. “This program removes the financial barriers from high-achieving students and allows them to reap the benefits of a world-class college education.”
Incoming Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard said: “The Rochester Promise will go a long way to open doors for many of our students. We need to create a ‘college-going’ culture in our district by ensuring that our secondary school curriculum is rigorous, aligned to post-secondary standards, and that our students are prepared for the challenge. I look forward to working with the University in our efforts to improve our students’ preparedness for post-secondary studies.”
Thirty-three graduates of the RCSD are now enrolled at the University as undergraduates.
About the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation’s leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and the Memorial Art Gallery. |
