nothin UConn “Puts Money Where Its Mouth Is” | New Haven Independent

UConn Puts Money Where Its Mouth Is”

Aliyya Swaby Photo

Harries, Yale’s Peter Salovey, Harp, Herbst at announcement.

High School in the Community seniors Atheijok Akok and Caroline Ricardo are both applying to the University of Connecticut — and a new scholarship program through the New Haven Promise could get them extra money to attend.

The seniors (pictured) filed into the Co-op High School auditorium Tuesday morning to hear city, state and education officials announce that students who enroll in the state university through the Promise program will get $5,000 in extra scholarship money each year starting next fall.

The UConn partnership will supplement scholarships offered through the Promise program — some for partial tuition, some full — to high-achieving New Haven public school students attending schools in the state. Yale and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven run Promise.

Attending the main UConn campus costs an estimated annual $24,834, including almost $10,000 of tuition.

UConn proposed this week raising its annual tuition $3,275—a fact not mentioned at the New Haven press conference Tuesday.

UConn President Susan Herbst said the partnership will help those working to close the achievement gap” in the state by making it easier for more students to get college educations. Last year, 14 Promise scholars graduated from UConn and more than 20 are expected to graduate this year.

Mayor Toni Harp said the scholarship will help more students follow through with their public educations.

Each of us has the duty to mentor and provide for the generation that follows,” she said. UConn put their money where their mouth is. They put their money where their heart is.”

District leaders have touted increases in graduation and college retention rates as a sign of school reform success. According to a study last year by the Rand Corporation, more students are prepared for college but many still struggle with skills such as time management and self-discipline.

Superintendent Garth Harries said the scholarship would help create a culture of college-going” among public school students. The district’s updated school reform 2.0.10” goals for the upcoming year include getting more than 80 percent of each graduating class getting through to the second year of college and an additional 15 percent enrolled in apprenticeships or armed services after graduation.

Harries asked students in the audience to raise their hands if they had finished the Common Application to apply to colleges, before the Dec. 15 deadline. Most raised their hands.

How many here have UConn on your list?” Harries asked. Almost all raised their hands.

Patricia Melton, Promise executive director, urged students to start applying for the Promise scholarship immediately. I’m hoping you’ll bombard us, you’ll make our servers go down,” she joked.

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