DENTON (UNT), Texas – University of North Texas President Gretchen M. Bataille will announce a new partnership with financially needy students have access to a higher education degree without paying tuition and fees.
The announcement is expected to come at 10 a.m. when Bataille addresses the EIF board at its Dallas headquarters at CityPlace, 2711 N. Haskell Ave. Following remarks by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Bataille will make the announcementnd co-sign a proclamation forming the partnership between UNT and Education is Freedom; Marcus Martin, president and CEO of EIF, also will sign the document.
The proclamation will state that DISD students who complete the Education is Freedom curriculum will be automatically admitted to UNT's Emerald Eagle Scholars program, assuming the student is academically and financially eligible. The new partnership, which will take effect next fall, is projected to admit 250 DISD EIF students to UNT as Emerald Eagle Scholars during the next four years. Each Emerald Eagle Scholar will have at least $28,000 in tuition and fees covered during their college career; thus, it is estimated that this partnership will result in a $7 million benefit to Dallas ISD students graduating from high school between 2009 and 2013.
"Education is Freedom is an organization committed to helping young students succeed, and as one of Texas' best universities, UNT is committed to providing affordable, accessible high quality higher education to bright and talented students," Bataille said. "I am proud to establish this new partnership and look forward to the opportunities it will provide to many of this region's students."
Education is Freedom is a nonprofit organization designed to eliminate the barriers to higher education and promote equality of opportunity in college attendance. The program prepares high school students for college by requiring that they:
- Maintain a strong grade point average;
- Participate in Advanced Placement courses;
- Minimize absences;
- Participate in other preparatory activities.
In return, students receive guidance, mentoring and help finding financial support for their college careers. Currently, the DISD offers an EIF model at three schools: W.H. Adamson, North Dallas
and James Madison High Schools. Education is Freedom plans to expand the program to an additional five DISD schools in the next several years.
UNT's Emerald Eagle Scholars program began in the fall of 2007. The program provides free tuition and fees and mentoring to academically talented students with financial need. The program is open to students who live in households with annual incomes of $40,000 or less. The Emerald Eagle Scholars program is more than a financial aid program, with an emphasis on student success and an on-schedule completion of each scholar's bachelor's degree. Emerald Eagle Scholars are expected to:
- Become actively involved in campus;
- Work an on-campus job if able;
- Enroll in 15 hours of classes each semester;
- Maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.5;
- Graduate in four years.
The scholars are supported by mentors both from the student body and from the faculty and staff.
"What excites us most is that UNT has not only made a tremendous financial commitment to these students, but has developed a well-rounded program. These lucky students will graduate from UNT with not only a great education, but a lot of terrific life skills that will serve them well in their careers and beyond," said Martin. Martin added that Leppert has been instrumental in working with Education Is Freedom through the Mayor's Chesapeake Energy Scholarship Program and the Mayor's Intern Fellows Program, and that this partnership is an extension of those efforts.
In addition, the Mayor is actively working to expand EIF's program into an additional five Dallas ISD high schooland 10 middle schools."Good education played a pivotal role in my life. It means so much for me to see students who've worked extremely hard to overcome challenges to then have the opportunity to participate in this remarkable program offered by the University of North Texas," said Leppert.
UNT's partnership with Education is Freedom is part of the university's continuing commitment to ensuring that higher education is available to every talented student, regardless of financial need.
This story located at http://web3.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=11217