By Sarah Mcsparin
With the cost of higher education rising every year, the University of Louisville recently unveiled a program known as the Cardinal Covenant designed to make higher education more affordable for lower income residents of Kentucky. On Jan. 4, President Dr. James Ramsey hosted a news conference in Grawemeyer Hall where the details of this new program were revealed.
“We are promising students from low-income families that they can attend college and graduate debt-free if they follow certain rules,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey announced that the covenant program will make education affordable for those living at or below the 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline, which is approximately 22.6 percent of Kentucky families.
Students eligible for the program will be ensured free tuition, room, board and books, Ramsey said.
Junior political science major David Quintin said, “I think the poverty line is too low, and to imply that people above the line don’t need help is misleading. While this program might be a good start.”
There are many other stipulations, aside from coming from a low-income background, such as the recipient must be enrolled full-time, maintain good grades, graduate within five years, be a resident of Kentucky, apply as an incoming freshman and meet other admissions and eligibility requirements.
“Higher education is the best investment anyone can make,” said Ramsey during the conference.
Ramsey predicted that around 150 students would qualify for the program next fall and the estimated costs for the university would be close to $250,000. The university is still searching for funding sources and is hoping for private donations. The university expects the costs of the program to go up each year as the number of students who apply for the program increases.
Financial support will not be the only form of support that the university is offering to eligible students. Ramsey announced that the university also plans on providing mentoring and advising sessions to help keep covenant students on track.
Boyd Bradshaw, an assistant for the university provost for enrollment services said, “They not only will be getting help, they’ll be getting a paycheck, too.” Additionally, every recipient will be guaranteed a work-study position in an effort to help students maintain financial stability during the school year.
Sophomore computer information systems major Brant Wheeler said, “This program appears to be very beneficial for a select group of students, however it would also be interesting to see what other programs the university could offer to a wider range of students.”
The covenant program is not a completely new concept. The Carolina Covenant of the University of North Carolina was the first to implement their Carolina Covenant program in 2003. Their Carolina Covenant program has been a success that has inspired other universities to execute their own programs. Since this time, there have been more than 20 universities that have introduced similar programs. However this is the first program of its kind in the state of Kentucky.
The covenant program will go before the university’s board of trustees on Jan. 11, for final approval. It is set to be installed by fall 2007.
