Students at Wallace State Community College transferring to the University of Alabama have a new opportunity for a comprehensive financial aid.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Award recently awarded The University of Alabama a $1 million grant to develop a community college advising program to help low income students in the Black Belt and Appalachia transfer to and graduate from four year institutions.

Building on this initiative, The University of Alabama proposes a new need-based financial aid program, Alabama's Promise, to compliment this important work. UA will guarantee financial aid covering tuition and fees to community college transfers who meet the following criteria:

• Graduate from high school in Alabama;
• Earn the Associate in Art or Associate in Science Degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 from a community college in Alabama or complete least 45 hours of general education requirements with a 3.0 QPA at a community college in Alabama;
• Transfer from the Alabama community college in good standing;
• Be 25 years of age or younger;
• Have a family income of $35,000 or less;
• Complete the FAFSA qualifying for a full Pell Grant (the FAFSA is the only application you need to complete for this award).

Students receiving financial support from Alabama's Promise will be expected to enroll in 15 hours required for the degree each semester and to remain in good academic standing.

The financial support will normally be provided for four semesters. On a case by case basis, students may receive financial support for two additional semesters if the plan of study requires more than 120 hours and the student is taking the required load and making progress toward the degree.

Wallace State students interested in attending the University of Alabama and learning more about Alabama’s Promise should contact University of Alabama transfer advisor Julie Irvin, whose office is located in the ACTION Center on the 8^th Floor of the James C. Bailey Center at Wallace State. Irvin may also be reached by email at julie.irvin@wallacestate.edu or by phone at 256-352-8436.

Kristen Holmes
Director, Communications & Marketing
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722   256-352-8118 direct
256-352-8314 fax   256-339-2519 cell
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu