New fund supports undergraduate student recruitment and retention

September 16, 2022

To help meritorious undergraduate students, ˿��Ƶ has launched the new Opportunity ˿��Ƶ fund to expand scholarship, financial aid and student support programs. These programs enable the University to attract, retain and graduate outstanding students.

Donors to the Opportunity ˿��Ƶ fund will help the University:

Attract top-tier undergraduate students who currently receive more attractive scholarship and financial aid offers from other highly selective schools.
Support targeted students throughout their academic journeys, bolstering our retention and graduation rates.
Expand diversity by geography, academic interest, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender and other dimensions as needed.

“We welcome gifts to Opportunity ˿��Ƶ of all sizes and types – endowment, current-use and planned gifts,” said R. Gerald Turner, ˿��Ƶ president. “Together, these gifts will strengthen our efforts to recruit and support outstanding students whose lives will be transformed by an ˿��Ƶ education.”

Examples of Opportunity ˿��Ƶ impact

Through Opportunity ˿��Ƶ, donors support many initiatives, including:

Scholarships for high-performing students from families with limited incomes who receive Federal Pell Grants. Donors help cover the cost of tuition, fees, housing and dining. (See the story below for details about one such program.)
The University’s comprehensive approach to improving retention and graduation rates, which benefits all undergraduate students.
A selective program that helps first-year students achieve early success at ˿��Ƶ by promoting academic achievement, leadership and personal excellence.

In addition to launching the Opportunity ˿��Ƶ fund, the University announced it has already received the first contribution to the fund. Leland B. White ’72 and Monica Hillenbrand White ’87 agreed to designate a previously announced leadership gift to Opportunity ˿��Ƶ, providing both endowment and current-use funds.

Opportunity ˿��Ƶ adds to many other ways ˿��Ƶ Ignited donors empower outstanding students, such as through scholar programs in each school, fellowships and other support for graduate students, and scholarship and need-based aid to enhance the recruitment and retention of Black and other underrepresented students.

“The Opportunity ˿��Ƶ fund will drive our educational access efforts and fuel the accomplishments of our students,” said Elizabeth Loboa, ˿��Ƶ provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Opportunity ˿��Ƶ donors will directly support students at every level of their academic journey, furthering the University’s efforts to think big and do good.”

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