ETSU recently announced a new program that expands upon already available financial assistance for higher education. The program, ETSU Promise Plus, will help first-time freshmen beginning in fall 2020 cover tuition and fees that might deter them from attending the university in favor of a two-year college.
ETSU Promise Plus is designed to help freshmen who are eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery (HOPE) Scholarship and the maximum Pell Grant.
“This program will provide free tuition for students who are interested in attending our university, but more importantly … it’s an effort for we as an institution to show what we can do to wrap our arms around those students in the state of Tennessee who are interested in pursing their dreams at the state’s flagship health sciences institution,” said ETSU President Brian Noland.
The four-year program will cover what financial aid, grants and scholarships do not. This includes tuition and fees necessary to attend ETSU as well as other services the university offers to support student success like Preview weekend and orientation costs.
During a press conference to announce the new program, Noland said the program would help eliminate cost from being a deciding factor for Promise Plus eligible students. Instead, students interested in ETSU can decide to attend if the university is their best fit without worrying about financial burdens.
Other benefits of the program include mentoring, tutoring, career support, an experience course for first-year students and Buccaneer Family Association membership. Students who choose to live on campus in the program will be eligible to receive up to $1,500 annually for four years in housing scholarships.
“There are a number of institutions in the state that have scholarship elements, but what we’re hoping to develop is a program that accentuates and develops student support,” Noland said.
ETSU Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment Joe Sherlin said the ETSU admissions team has begun reaching out to high schools, particularly in the northeast Tennessee area, about ETSU Promise Plus as well as students who inquire about the university.
There is no application for ETSU Promise Plus. First-time freshman will be notified of their eligibility for the program after they have applied to the university for admission and completed the FAFSA.
Sherlin said about 200 students will be eligible for the program beginning in fall 2020, and Noland said the university expects about 100 students to benefit from it during the inaugural semester. They hope after the fall 2020 semester more eligible students will apply to ETSU after they hear about the program.
“We’ve learned from the innovative work that’s occurred at other institutions, and we believe we’ve put together a program that’s unique – that builds on the unique mission of ETSU and the strengths of our university,” Sherlin said.
The program is funded by a combination of federal, state and institutional resources, and the university is working on raising philanthropic funds as well.
More information about the program can be found at etsu.edu/promiseplus.
