Local Hispanic students may receive tuition break

Striving toward more diversity on campus, EMU has developed a tuition discount program for local Latino students.

A committee of teachers, admissions counselors, and other EMU staff with experience in Latino culture has been meeting to develop a way to make EMU's campus more appealing and affordable for the growing Latino community in the Harrisonburg area. Their plan has just been approved by the cabinet, and students will benefit from the discount as early as fall semester 2004.

EMU is hoping to eventually have at least seven new Latino students each year. Tuition will be cut on a sliding scale based on the student's Expected Family Contribution as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. By creating a tuition break, EMU will be able to compete with state schools for Latino student attendance. Aid will be divided between the seven or more students based on their individual needs. Full-time students will be able to renew the discount each semester for up to ten semesters. Students experiencing language difficulty will be eligible for the Intensive English Program.

Advertising for the discount will soon begin appearing locally in Spanish newspapers and at Latino organizations such as Hispanic Counseling Services. Naomi Gorton, an admissions counselor passionate about the new program, already has a couple of prospective students for next semester. "I'm really excited to be able to address issues in the community," she said. "It's part of EMU's call to be diverse."

In addition, EMU is seeking contributions from local and national organizations to sponsor the program. The goal is to promote further education for Latinos who do not necessarily have a history of attending college or university.

As more Latino students begin attending EMU, the university is committed to finding ways of integrating student diversity into campus life. Multicultural Services will coordinate a special orientation, Latino Heritage Month, and activities that bring local families onto campus.

Moira Rogers, Spanish professor at EMU said, "The most important thing is to try and integrate. It takes the community, and it takes each one of us reaching out." She is "incredibly thrilled" to be part of the committee deciding these policies. "Our main concern is to provide an environment that will make them want to stay," Rogers said.

Language does not have to be a barrier, either. "Language is not everything," Rogers said. "It takes more than that and there are many other ways to connect."

Deana Durham, EMU's community learning coordinator, also sees the importance of the program. "We need to be supporting what's going on in our community," she said. She recognizes the need for more activities that bring Latino families to campus and make EMU a more familiar place. Durham also noted that more Hispanic faculty representation is needed to make Latino students feel truly welcome. "The Latino community is so local, we ought to be including them," she said.