Unique opportunities for donors to make a difference
No institution offers a more powerful example of private support furthering the public good than Penn State. No other institution has greater potential to transform philanthropy from commitment to impact than Penn State, and the Eberly College of Science boasts the excellence and innovative potential to play a leadership role in that impact. The college is a vibrant and diverse scientific and educational community that is internationally renowned for excellence and continues to grow and mature. Philanthropy from individuals who believe in our mission continues to be vital in making it possible for us to grow even stronger.
President Eric Barron has outlined three core imperatives to guide us toward even greater heights:
- Open doors: ensuring access for talented students of every background
- Create transformative experiences: providing the opportunities that allow students and faculty members to discover their full potential
- Impact the world: tackling the world’s most pressing problems
To demonstrate its commitment to the goals of ensuring access, the University offers an unprecedented opportunity to extend the impact of donors’ support through the matching programs outlined here:
The Open Doors Scholarship 2:1 Matching Program
Over the last three decades, rising costs and declining state support have placed an increasing burden on students and families. Today, many of the college’s undergraduates work multiple jobs while carrying a full course load, yet they are graduating with more debt than ever before. When faced with these financial obstacles, many give up on their dreams.
Scholarships make a difference, allowing students to graduate with less debt and more choices and to take full advantage of all Penn State has to offer, from research opportunities to internships to study abroad programs—experiences that enrich students’ learning and open doors of opportunity after graduation. By investing in scholarships, supporters can help some of the most ambitious students reach their goals and ensure a brighter future for those students, their communities, and their nation.
The Open Doors Scholarship Matching Program provides a 2:1 match for donors who create scholarships benefiting students with the greatest financial need who are enrolled in one of the University’s pilot programs designed to help students reduce debt and excel while earning their degrees. This matching program runs only for this fiscal year, so opportunities to take advantage of this match are available only until June 30, 2018.
First-Time Donor 1:1 Endowed Scholarship Matching Program
As declining state support has shifted the burden of rising tuition to students and families, too many undergraduates are juggling full-time course loads with full-time jobs, sacrificing many of the benefits of the Penn State experience and ultimately
delaying their degrees and careers. Many students complete their degrees with extraordinary burdens of debt. Graduating seniors in the Eberly College of Science currently have an average debt of more than $37,000. Other students don’t graduate at all and must find a way to pay off their student loans without the benefit of a degree.
The First-Time Donor Endowed Scholarship Matching Program provides a 1:1 match for donors who create their first endowed scholarship at Penn State during the Greater Penn State campaign. To qualify, scholarships must support undergraduate students who demonstrate need, defined as any student whose family resources can cover only 25 percent or less of the cost of their Penn State education, as determined by Penn State’s Office of Student Aid. This matching program is available throughout the duration of the campaign.
Graduate Scholarship 1:1 Matching Program
One of the college’s top fundraising goals is the creation of a graduate fellowship program to invigorate our graduate students by providing them with opportunities for mentorship, academic challenges, and travel support.
The Graduate Scholarship Matching Program allows donors to create a graduate scholarship or fellowship at half of the required minimum by matching the donor’s gift at a ratio of 1:1 to reach the full endowment level. This matching program runs only for this fiscal year, so opportunities to take advantage of this match are available until June 30, 2018; this matching program does not require student need as one of its criteria.
Onward toward greatness
By opening doors, creating transformative experiences, and impacting the world, Penn State and the Eberly College of Science are working to take the University to the next level of greatness. We want you to be a part of this exciting initiative. To find out more about opportunities to support our campaign, including matching programs for faculty support and economic development, contact science.alumni@psu.edu.