Panther Completion Grant

What is the Panther Completion Grant

What if $500 could be the difference between a student graduating from college or dropping out entirely?

That's the reality for some college students today. Each semester, students at UNI pay their university (U-Bill) in order to register for classes or graduate. The balance can be a variety of charges, including an outstanding tuition payment. Each year, many students will struggle with the reality of juggling life expenses--household rent, transportation, books, supplies, repairs, and other financial responsibilities-- and some of these students aren't able to pay their U-Bill on time. Since the U-Bill must be paid nearly in full prior to registration for the next semester's courses, these financial challenges create a barrier to persistence and timely graduation. Disproportionately, these students facing these barriers come from groups traditionally underserved in higher education, including low-income, first generation and underrepresented minority students, and are already working one or more jobs to make ends meet.

• An October 2022 analysis of UNI student U-Bills found that 111 juniors and seniors had past-due balances ranging from $5 to $992, which triggers a hold on class registration until the balance is paid.
• Nationally, students who do not register on time drop out at rates disproportionately higher than their peers.
• Data shows that if a student leaves college temporarily, even for a semester, they have just a 30 percent chance of completing their degree.

The Purpose

One-time tuition assistance could keep these students on the path to graduation. The UNI Office of Student Success and Retention and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships partnered to develop the Panther Completion Grant, a program that provides one-time financial assistance to students facing financial barriers so they can register for classes and graduate on time.

Criteria

• Students must be enrolled at UNI and making progress towards their degree (sophomore standing or above).
• Be in good academic standing.
• The unpaid portion of their university bill must be related to tuition and fees or room and board.  

Your Gift Can Get Students Back on Track

The university is committed to retaining and graduating students. Panther Completion Grants support this goal by providing a concrete way to proactively promote timely graduation for students who might otherwise stop temporarily or leave UNI permanently due to financial barriers.