VANCOUVER, Wash. - More than 160 new and current students at Washington State University Vancouver got a surprise in the mail last week. They received a letter from the university letting them know they had been granted an Access Award-$1,000 or $2,000 in additional financial aid for the 2009/2010 school year which begins today.
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø is awarding nearly $300,000 to needy students to provide support and access to higher education. The Washington State Legislature mandated that one percent of any tuition increase above seven percent-91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø's tuition increase is 14 percent this year-be set aside for financial aid. The leadership at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø decided to match that requirement two to one.
"We have a commitment to help support our students in a variety of ways, and I believe this additional funding helps demonstrate that support in a very tangible way," said Nancy Youlden, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø.
The recipients of the Access Award are students who demonstrate significant financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) but for a variety of reasons including timing and limited funds, did not receive a complete aid package.
"We're helping people who got caught in the middle. They got squeezed out of funding they were counting on to persist, or in some cases start, their post-secondary education," said Youlden. "Funding a college education can be quite challenging. The Access Award is just one way 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø can help make these students' educational goals attainable."
The additional support is making a difference. Michael Bock,32, is a biology major starting his second year at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø this fall. He plans to go on to medical school and currently works full time as an emergency room technician at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Ore. He's also dealing with a medical crisis that's left him juggling a mountain of bills.
"Receiving the Access Award was a huge blessing and a fantastic surprise. It's radical!" said Bock. "I'm going to school on loans, and I don't get paid too much as an ER tech. This money will allow me to pay some bills right off the bat, keep the collectors from calling and still eat."
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø is celebrating 20 years of bringing quality education, research and service to the citizens of Southwest Washington. The campus is located at 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø offers 16 bachelor's degrees, 10 master's degrees, one doctorate degree and more than 36 fields of study. Learn more at
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