A Bold Plan University commits $16 million annually to keep higher ed affordable

Photo by Andrew Shurtleff

U.Va. President John T. Casteen III unveils the new financial aid plan at a Feb. 6 board meeting.

By Dan Heuchert

A college degree has long been a launching pad to a better life. But increasingly, even middle-income students and their families worry that college debts will become a burden, limiting future career and educational opportunities.

In response, the University has unveiled “Access UVa,” an ambitious financial aid program – unprecedented among U.S. public institutions – designed to keep higher education affordable for all students who qualify for admission, regardless of economic circumstance.

“To learn, and by learning to become an informed citizen in a democratic society, is a fundamental American right held dear by Virginians,” said University President John T. Casteen III. “Because access for students with need is a priority for us, the University of Virginia has made a conscious choice to allocate the resources to make this program work.

“Access UVa has the added benefit of allowing students the freedom to pursue graduate study or public-service careers after their undergraduate careers are completed, without the kind of burdensome debt that might otherwise limit their options.” Full story.

‘Access’ draws praise

By Dan Heuchert

Alex Stolar is a second-year Student Council member from Wilton, Conn. He receives no financial aid, so he will not benefit directly from the Access UVa financial aid plan, unveiled Feb. 6.

But Stolar knows he will benefit in other ways.

“Indirectly, it affects me because of the increased quality of students who will come,” he said. Additionally, the program’s emphasis on grants and limited loans means students who receive aid should be able to take advantage of more extra-curricular opportunities, enriching themselves and the community, he said.

“There are two kinds of learning that go on here, the learning that goes on in the classroom, and the learning that goes on outside,” he said.

That’s the whole point, said University President John T. Casteen III in announcing the program: to allow all prospective students equal access to the University, and to allow them to make choices about their academic and post-graduation careers free from worry about debt. Full story.