OU broadening access to academic programs that continue to garner national recognition
Rochester, Mich. – As faculty and staff work to enhance a broad array of academic programs that have won Oakland University a designation by the Lumina Foundation for Education as one of the state’s seven research institutions, the university community is looking toward a future that will reinforce its status among the most respected institutions of higher learning in the state and the nation.
The Carnegie Foundation has classified Oakland as a distinctive doctoral/research institution, the Princeton Review has named it among the best Midwestern colleges, U.S News and World Report consistently recognizes it among America’s best colleges, and a number of Oakland programs have been rated among the best in the nation.
“Perhaps the clearest indication of our success in building this university has been the long list of accomplishments our alumni have achieved in both their personal and professional lives,” said President Gary Russi. “Consistently, our graduates tell us that the educational foundation they received at Oakland has given them the knowledge, resources and confidence they need to make their goals reality.”
Committed to broadening access to these valuable resources and welcoming as diverse a student body as possible, the university has boosted financial aid resources by 30 percent for the 2009-10 school year. As part of the initiative, Oakland will guarantee first-time freshmen full tuition aid, less an expected family contribution as determined by the U.S. Department of Education, which means eligible students will accrue no debt.
Oakland also maintains a Special Tuition Assistance Fund to help students with deteriorating financial circumstances and is the only state university that has eliminated all student fees, which makes all out-of-pocket costs eligible for financial aid.
Meanwhile, Oakland University officials are taking steps necessary to maintain a world-class academic environment and the most sound investment students can make in their future. The university has set its 2009-10 in-state, undergraduate tuition rate at $9,353 for full-time resident students, which represents an increase of 11 percent over 2008-09 rates.
The decision comes in the wake of years of declining state support and rising costs outside the university’s control. Despite this, and the fact that Oakland’s per-student allocation from the state is the second lowest among Michigan’s public universities, data compiled from several independent organizations (see chart) confirms that Oakland’s tuition has been the lowest and remains the most affordable of the state’s research institutions in terms of overall, out-of-pocket costs to students.
In recent years, Oakland has taken pride in making cost reductions resulting in more than $31 million in permanent and one-time savings. Through these initiatives and a recent salary freeze and modified benefit plan savings, the university hopes to protect the jobs of its dedicated and highly-accomplished faculty and staff, who will in turn maintain the integrity of academic programs.
“An Oakland University education remains an exceptional value considering all that our students receive,” Russi said.
For more information on Oakland University programs and the many efforts being made to keep them accessible, visit www.oakland.edu/quality.
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The university community is looking toward a future that will reinforce its status among the most respected institutions of higher learning in the state and the nation.
Created by David Groves (groves@oakland.edu) on Thursday, July 23, 2009 Modified by Michelle Moser (strunge@oakland.edu) on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Article Start Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009
