NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - A new University of Oklahoma program will help cover the school fees of students who receive Oklahoma’s Promise tuition scholarships, school officials said.
The new Crimson Commitment program will cover up to $8,000 worth of a student’s fees per year beginning in the fall 2019 semester, The Oklahoman reported . The university plans to invest more than $1.5 million per year in the program through federal, state and institutional aid sources.
Crimson Commitment will operate in conjunction with the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship, which covers full tuition at public institutions or partial tuition private ones and is administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Students can enroll in Oklahoma’s Promise between eighth and 10th grades if their family’s income doesn’t exceed $55,000. About 2,000 University of Oklahoma students receive the scholarship.
Current university students receiving Oklahoma’s Promise can enroll in Crimson Commitment if they still meet the tuition scholarship’s requirements, which include being enrolled full-time and being on track to graduate in four years.
Incoming freshman who qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise must apply to Crimson Commitment by Feb 1. Students must be admitted to the university straight from high school and be first-time, full-time freshman.
The university wants to attract the best students without cost as a barrier, said Jeff Blahnik, the university’s associate provost for enrollment.
“We are taking action to make OU more affordable to Oklahomans and want students in the state to think of OU as their future college home,” Blahnik said. “We are dedicated to keeping Oklahoma talent in our state, and Crimson Commitment helps us serve strong students who are in most need of financial assistance.”
Crimson Commitment will replace the Sooner Promise program, which covered up to $5,000 in expenses for students eligible for Oklahoma’s Promise, Blahnik said. Current university students with the Sooner Promise program will be automatically enrolled into Crimson Commitment if they meet the renewal requirements.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
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