Spring Break
OSU Foundation assists students
Balancing the Oregon Opportunity Grant
Lauren Dillard
Issue date: 1/14/09 Section: News
Due to a lack of funds, students receiving the Oregon Opportunity Grant were supposed to each lose $80 worth of funding for spring term.
Part-time students would have seen a loss of $40. However, more than 3,400 OSU students won't feel the pinch this spring because OSU alumni and friends have made up the difference.
Thanks to the Campaign for OSU, a fundraising campaign through the OSU Foundation, $490,000 has been offered to cover the shortfall.
In addition, 200 students who were unable to meet an early application deadline last fall for the OOG are being assisted with federal grant funds secured by OSU, according to OSU Assistant Provost for Enrollment Management Kate Peterson.
The students who are being assisted will be contacted within the next week.
According to OSU spokesman Todd Simmons, OSU was very concerned with securing the funds for students in need, rather than allowing them to scramble to make up the difference - risking their ability to stay enrolled in school.
"Of course, using those funds in this way now means we'll have limited emergency monies going into the next academic year," said Peterson in an OSU press release. "Still, we felt that it was critical to help these students continue their progress toward degrees, so that our greatest contribution toward a healthy economy - the graduation of highly educated students - is as strong as it must be in these difficult times."
OSU has secured more than the University of Oregon and Western Oregon University to help its students. The loss of OOG funds will affect more than 30,000 students statewide, including those at OSU.
To qualify for the OOG, you must be a resident of the state of Oregon, a student enrolled with at least six credits, meet requirements for Federal Pell Grant and be "financially needy." Need is based on household size and family income and assets.
managing@dailybarometer.com, 737-2232
Part-time students would have seen a loss of $40. However, more than 3,400 OSU students won't feel the pinch this spring because OSU alumni and friends have made up the difference.
Thanks to the Campaign for OSU, a fundraising campaign through the OSU Foundation, $490,000 has been offered to cover the shortfall.
In addition, 200 students who were unable to meet an early application deadline last fall for the OOG are being assisted with federal grant funds secured by OSU, according to OSU Assistant Provost for Enrollment Management Kate Peterson.
The students who are being assisted will be contacted within the next week.
According to OSU spokesman Todd Simmons, OSU was very concerned with securing the funds for students in need, rather than allowing them to scramble to make up the difference - risking their ability to stay enrolled in school.
"Of course, using those funds in this way now means we'll have limited emergency monies going into the next academic year," said Peterson in an OSU press release. "Still, we felt that it was critical to help these students continue their progress toward degrees, so that our greatest contribution toward a healthy economy - the graduation of highly educated students - is as strong as it must be in these difficult times."
OSU has secured more than the University of Oregon and Western Oregon University to help its students. The loss of OOG funds will affect more than 30,000 students statewide, including those at OSU.
To qualify for the OOG, you must be a resident of the state of Oregon, a student enrolled with at least six credits, meet requirements for Federal Pell Grant and be "financially needy." Need is based on household size and family income and assets.
managing@dailybarometer.com, 737-2232
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