AMES – The Iowa State Athletics Department has committed to making a $1 million contribution to the institution’s Financial Aid Office for degree completion grants.
The commitment allows the Department of Athletics to help some of Iowa State’s financially needy students complete their degrees through the use of these grants.
“This is an extremely generous gesture by the Athletics Department to help us support students in need so they can complete their degree,” ISU Financial Aid Director Roberta Johnson said. “It’s a significant contribution by athletics to help our students reach their most important goal… graduation from Iowa State University.”
Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard shared the department’s vision for making this financial contribution with Chair of the Faculty Senate and Faculty Athletics Representative Tim Day. The details were then worked out by Johnson, Day and Student Body President Cody West.
“On behalf of the students at Iowa State, I say ‘thank you’ to the athletics department for making this significant financial commitment to help students, who need assistance, finish their degree requirements,” West said. “Athletics is such a key component of the student experience and this additional support shows how much they value the students on this campus.”
Day, as well as President Wendy Wintersteen, reiterated the impact the financial support will have on campus.
“This initiative is at the leading edge of making higher education accessible to many in difficult financial circumstances,” Day said. “It’s a bold statement that athletics is a significant campus partner. Athletics will lean on the professional judgment and expertise of the university’s Financial Aid Office to handle distribution of the funds.”
“I’m proud of the great collaboration of these university leaders who recognized an important need and worked together to make this financial commitment a reality.” ISU President Wendy Wintersteen said. This commitment supports the university’s key goal of helping more students overcome financial hurdles that threaten their ability to graduate. We deeply appreciate the Department of Athletics’ strong support for all students.”
Athletics has long been a significant contributor to the university through payments, revenues and transfers that total more than $100 million since FY13. Nearly $25 million was transferred last year between student-athlete scholarships, fee-for-service payments, partial aid payments and construction projects like the on-going green space project at the south end of Jack Trice Stadium.
“We take our role as a campus citizen very seriously and are excited we are in a position to make this investment to help students on this campus,” Pollard said. “Students are the backbone of our support network in athletics and helping some young people be in a position to realize their dreams and earn a degree was an initiative we prioritized very highly. I want to recognize Roberta, Tim and Cody for their efforts to make our vision a reality.”
