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Student Access, Transition and Success Programs

Information

Important Information and Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of the Purdue Opportunity Awards Program?
The goal of the Purdue Opportunity Awards (POA) Program is to enroll and graduate Indiana students who may otherwise not have considered attending Purdue University West Lafayette. We provide a supportive environment to assist students by encouraging academic excellence, campus involvement, and individual success. We do this by providing peer mentors and personal attention to the unique challenges that our POA Scholars may encounter.

What does the Financial Award consist of?
The award provides up to $3,000 each year toward the student's cost of attendance, above and beyond state and federal aid, for four years of full-time enrollment at Purdue University West Lafayette. (Cost of attendance may include tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation, or other miscellaneous educational expenses.) In order to remain in the POA program, a student must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each academic year.

What are the personal and academic support components of the program?
In addition to financial support, POA Scholars participate in programming designed to provide encouragement, support, and guidance throughout the first year starting with the Day on Campus summer registration program. POA Scholars participate in a first-year experience course, mentoring program, and social activities. Events might include an overnight retreat at Camp Tecumseh, attending athletic events, Convocations programs, etc. The course will focus on study skills, money management, Financial Aid, career planning, multicultural/diversity education, etc. The participants will also be encouraged to form intramural teams, participate in community service projects, participate in a Learning Community, and join clubs and organizations.

At the end of the first year, participants will be invited to serve as Peer Mentors to the next group of POA Scholars. In early Spring, POA Mentors attend leadership training to learn how to provide guidance to the next class of POA Scholars. Peer Mentors will be matched with new Scholars during the summer and keep in contact with their Mentees throughout the school year. The POA Peer Mentors also coordinate many of the social activities and provide outreach to keep students connected.

What are the POA program requirements?

Please stay tuned to our website for application information for Fall 2009.

How do I nominate a student for the POA?

Please stay tuned to our website for application information for Fall 2009.

How does a student receive POA application materials?

Please stay tuned to our website for application information for Fall 2009.


When is the POA application deadline?

Please stay tuned to our website for application information for Fall 2009.

When will the POA scholars be contacted regarding whether or not they received the award?

Please stay tuned to our website for application information for Fall 2009.

Purdue Opportunity Awards Contact Information

Jenna Laub
Senior Assistant Director, Student Access, Transition and Success Programs
Purdue Opportunity Awards Program Coordinator

Mailing Address/Office Location
128 Memorial Mall Drive
Stewart G77
West Lafayette, IN 47907

Phone: 765-494-9328
Fax: 765-496-6752
E-mail: poa@purdue.edu
URL: www.purdue.edu/sats then click on "Purdue Opportunity Awards"