MESA Aids OICF Students with Needed Resources

Published on Apr 06 2010 in Press Release by

The Oregon Independent College Foundation (OICF) and Community and Shelter Assistance Corp. of Oregon (CASA of Oregon) are pleased to announce that the Matched Educational Savings Accounts (MESA) College Initiative has made its initial distribution on behalf of participating students attending one of Oregon’s leading private colleges. Twelve (12) students who met MESA’s eligibility requirements and enrolled in the program were able to make their first withdrawal of saved and matching funds for the Winter/Spring semester.

Collectively, the twelve students saved a total of $5,187 that was rewarded with a total match of $25,937. For this group, an average individual student’s savings of $432.25 was matched with $2,167.42.

OICF was awarded a $100,000 challenge grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation First Opportunity Partner Access and Success Grants administered by the Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE).  This generous grant, together with OICF’s match, provided OICF with an initial $200,000 in private funds to launch the program – enough to allow a total of sixty-six (66) students at OICF member colleges and universities to enroll in MESA in 2009 and 2010.

MESA is designed to address funding gaps and reduce debt load for low-income students. The MESA College Initiative serves Oregon’s students with limited financial resources by promoting positive financial behavior and rewarding students for their active participation and savings.  Participating students who meet their savings goals and fulfill the financial education and college planning requirements of the program can save of total of $1,600 over a period of three years that will be matched with $8,000.  This is a 5:1 match ratio!

OICF and CASA seek to create access to post-secondary education for low-income Oregonians by incorporating MESA into the service stream of Oregon’s leading independent colleges and universities. To achieve this, CASA & OICF uphold the following objectives:

  • Increase the number of low-income students enrolling into post-secondary study at one of Oregon’s leading independent colleges and universities;
  • Increase the number of participating students graduating with the skills to immediately impact the region’s workforce;
  • Decrease the amount of debt with which a student will graduate; and,
  • Encourage and model positive financial practices for students.

Through this partnership, OICF is able to achieve its goal of providing access, opportunity and choice for low-income Oregonians, especially while targeting such traditionally underserved populations as students of color, first generation students and non-native English speakers by leveraging support and resources from the private sector.  The MESA College Initiative supports OICF’s goal to ensure that all young people have equal opportunity to access a quality and personalized education experience at one of Oregon’s leading independent colleges and graduate with the skills to immediately impact the region’s workforce needs.  This innovative, powerful collaboration with CASA of Oregon serves the increasing numbers of financially vulnerable students attending our member colleges and universities.

Click here for a list of the MESA contacts on each OICF campus.  Representatives will discuss how to participate in MESA on their campus and assist students with getting started and completing the MESA enrollment application.

For more information or to learn how to participate in the OICF’s ongoing effort to increase student access and success at its member colleges contact Brent Wilder, OICF Vice President at: 503-496-3420.

Benefits of the Small College Experience

With an average faculty to student ratio of 12:1, OICF colleges and universities offer students a highly personalized education experience that values each student as an important member of that community. Faculty and staff are accessible and leadership opportunities abound. OICF colleges and universities represent nearly one-third of the total number of bachelor degrees and higher earned in Oregon annually and pride themselves on producing graduates with the requisite skills to immediately transition into Oregon’s workforce.