As families tighten their budgets and are forced to spend money that they planned on saving for college, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for low-income high school students to attend college.
Fairfield’s Bridgeport Tuition Initiative, a five-month old plan that grants free tuition to any Bridgeport high school student whose family makes less than $50,000 a year, has become that much more important in the current economic situation.
In the first year of the program, 18 students from Bridgeport, 12 freshmen and six returning students are enrolled at the University and are taking advantage of the plan.
‘I feel that this plan was a blessing,’ said’ Antquanette Chisolm ’12, who attended Bridge Academy Charter School last year, was accepted at Fairfield and chose to come after receiving free tuition.
Chisolm, who graduated at the top of her high school class and’ is the first person in her family to go to college, said that she has enjoyed her time at Fairfield so far.
‘My classes are wonderful and the people are even better,’ said Chisolm.
Students must first be accepted into Fairfield before qualifying for the tuition plan, which does not specifically cover room and board costs. Depending on individual circumstances, the University may also pay for room and board, fees and other expenses.
‘We are pleased with the first year’s results,’ said Judith Dobai, the associate vice president for enrollment management. ‘Our goal is to raise awareness in Bridgeport that Fairfield can be affordable for academically successful students.’
‘ ‘Fairfield has over 450 students with family incomes below $50,000 already enrolled, so this was a way to inform others that Fairfield is accessible to them too,’ she continued.
John Ramos, the superintendent of Bridgeport schools, said that he is pleased with the success of the plan so far.
‘So far it is working well,’ Ramos said. ‘There are 12 students from Bridgeport at Fairfield as freshmen and I believe that all 12 have accessed the program. That is a great start. As time goes on and the plan gets older, more students will take advantage of it.’
Ramos added that the plan was well publicized throughout Bridgeport schools last year and that, ‘guidance counselors are aware of it and are communicating it to the students.’
The result, according to Ramos, is an increase in discussion about Fairfield and he expects more students to try and take advantage of the initiative in the coming years.
‘The other day I was in a school in the career center, talking to students about their future plans,’ said Ramos. ‘A couple told me that they were applying to Fairfield and were excited about the fact that the opportunity is available. Students do know and are looking forward to the chance.’
The initiative aims to motivate students in Bridgeport to work hard in high school in order to receive a crucial college education, while also increasing the diversity at Fairfield.
‘I think the plan is a great way to motivate people to try harder and I am pretty sure that it already is,’ said Chisolm.
William H. Johnson, the associate director of admission for diversity, said that the initiative should help ‘improve the socioeconomic diversity within our student body.’
The Fairfield initiative debuted in the same year that Sacred Heart University unveiled a similar plan, which extends throughout Fairfield County. Twelve students have taken advantage of that plan this year. However, Dobai does not believe that there will be any competition between the two schools.
‘Fairfield’s plan fits best within our overall financial aid goals of providing as much aid as possible to as many students who need it,’ said Dobai. ‘Our overall goal remains enrolling students of all economic means and providing the financial support students may need to attend Fairfield.’
The plan should make Fairfield more attractive to students who could have chosen Fairfield in the past, but could not afford it without a substantial amount of aid.
‘I believe that many of Bridgeport’s top students who may have traditionally looked elsewhere for the college education will give more consideration to attending Fairfield,’ said Johnson. ‘There may be other students who find [the initiative] to be an opportunity that motivates them to do well academically and display many of the qualities that Fairfield seeks in its students.’
Dobai agreed and said, ‘We may see some increase in applicants from Bridgeport schools. More importantly, we want to attract the strongest Bridgeport students who may have in the past looked to stat institutions instead of Fairfield because of tuition costs.’
The students who have come to Fairfield on the scholarship are able to set an example for younger generations of students in Fairfield.
‘I think that the scholarship will make a better bond between Fairfield and Bridgeport because it is giving a great opportunity to inner city students,’ said Sergio Lara ’12, who received the plan. ‘I hope that this scholarship does motivate’ students in Bridgeport do better, because this scholarship can change their mind.’
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