The ASU Foundation at Albany State University this week provided $37,000 in scholarships to hundreds of university students. This brings the total amount in Foundation assistance to students to $87,000, this academic year alone, in efforts to combat the impact of rising tuition costs, and reduced state and federal funding on ASU students.

“We value our students and are fully invested in their educational pursuits here at the university,” said Chanta Haywood, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation. “Obtaining a degree, while beneficial, can be costly. All too often, however, challenges to meet all of the financial obligations sometimes arise. There just isn’t enough money to close the gap. Our role is to raise funds to help support our students and do all we can do to assist them.”

More than 200 need-based scholarships have already been given this week to qualified students who could not meet their financial obligations to stay in school, according to Haywood. Students with financial balances of $500 or less are eligible to receive the funds.

Abiodun Ojemakinde, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, said at almost every institution, students face the prospect of having to leave because they can’t pay their bills.  This is also the case at Albany State, where more than 90 percent of the students receive some form of assistance.
“Considering the population of the students we serve,” Ojemakinde said,
“a small amount of up to $500 could be the determining factor in whether a student stays in school or leaves. We don’t want those challenges to hinder our students’ success – or access to education.”

“As the university nears its standard review of student balances and accounts,” he added, “only a few more days remain before students may face being dropped from their courses for unpaid debts. We have processed almost everyone who applied and was awarded financial aid.”

Meanwhile, Ojemakinde said administrators are considering ways to improve processes and financial responsibility among students to include financial literacy workshops and altered schedules. “We’re looking into changing our recruitment cycle; we would recruit most of our students much earlier, in the fall, so they have enough time to resolve all financial matters they might have.”

University administrators said they are confident that continued donations from the community, alumni, corporate partners, churches and others will help as many students as possible return to class and become financially solvent. ASU Interim President Arthur Dunning and his wife have donated and pledged $75,000 in less than a year to support students.

“We are so fortunate to have a president who is leading by example, along with many alumni, businesses and friends who keep on giving to support these students and their quest for a college degree,” Haywood said.  Only with the help of our donors, can we continue to do so through the Foundation.”