University System of New Hampshire Board Approves Expansion of the Affordable College Effort (ACE) to the Neediest NH Students

Affordable College Effort June 28, 2007 – Durham, NH – Recognizing the financial barriers to college New Hampshire’s neediest residents face, the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) Board of Trustees approved a major expansion for its grant program, the Affordable College Effort (ACE). The program originally covered full-time students attending a USNH institution as a freshman, and will now cover eligible students through the first two years of college.

The ACE Awards were established in late 2005. They help New Hampshire residents attending a residential USNH institution as a full time freshman within one year of graduating from high school and for which the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is under $1,000. The program assisted about 131 incoming freshmen in the 2006-07 academic year, providing those enrolled for the full year with awards of approximately $4,625 each. Combined with other grants and college work study funds, the direct cost to attend – which includes standard tuition, fees, room, and board – will be fully met.

"Cost is clearly the greatest barrier lower income students face when considering college. The establishment and the expansion of the Affordable College Effort represent a major commitment on the part of the USNH Board to help pave the way for these students and help them enroll full time and graduate with reduced debt," said Andrew Lietz, chair of the USNH Board of Trustees.

In the fall of 2007, both freshmen and sophomores that meet all eligibility criteria will be eligible for an ACE Award . Given the changes and given the greater awareness of the ACE Awards in the second year o f the program, it is estimated that at least 250 New Hampshire students will receive ACE Awards in 2007-08 and it will grow to close to 300 in 2008-09. The average award is expected to be approximately $5,500 in 2007-08.

Of the students that received an ACE Award in the fall of 2006, 90 percent returned for the spring semester. In the fall, USNH will have more complete data on retention between the freshman and sophomore years, as well as on the number of credits earned and overall grade point average as compared to the freshman class as a whole.

"Seeing nine of out every 10 Ace Award recipients return for their second semester is extremely positive and demonstrates that these individuals are making higher education a high priority. I applaud them and hope they take the message back to their families and communities that higher education can be possible for those in our state who believed it was not an option," said Stephen Reno, chancellor of the University System.

Students who receive an ACE Award will incur no loan debt for meeting the direct costs of education, provided that they have met all information submission deadlines. ACE Awards assist eligible students who enroll at one of the residential USNH institutions, which include the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, and Keene State College.

Students apply for not only Pell Grants but all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs (except scholarships) by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and must submit all information in accordance with stated deadlines. The paper FAFSA is available from high school guidance offices, or the form may be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA must be submitted within the schedule established by the respective institutions, generally March 1st of each year. By filing the FAFSA, students will automatically be considered for an ACE Award. There is no separate application. More information can be found at www.usnh.edu.

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