Announced March 16, the Promise Plus program will expand tuition assistance programs at seven UT institutions, including The University of Texas at San Antonio.
“Financial challenges should never stand in the way of any Texan who wishes to earn a high-quality degree,” System Chancellor James Milliken said at a presentation at UT Dallas. “I’m grateful to the board of regents for this new and important investment in our students.”
Expanding the tuition assistance program was discussed in 2019 when the board of regents created a $167 million endowment to support students at UT in Austin. Regents Chair Kevin Eltife said at the time he and the board were committed to developing similar programs for all UT academic institutions.
Other schools that will benefit from the program include UT Arlington, UT El Paso, UT Permian Basin, UT Dallas, UT Rio Grande Valley and UT Tyler.
“The Promise Plus program will expand educational opportunities here in San Antonio and across the state by making it possible for more students to earn a degree at no cost.” Eltife said. “There is a lot of talk about student debt, and we are doing our best to tackle it on the front end.”
Promise Plus funds will now be eligible for full-time, undergraduate students who are Texas residents and qualify for need-based aid. UT Dallas officials said the program will be used to supplement federal and state aid, such as Pell grants and Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success Grant Program grants. The new Promise Plus endowment adds to the nearly $165 million that the board has invested in UTSA ober the past decade, according to the university system.
"With the addition of the annual Promise Plus funds, we can increase the annual family income threshold to qualify for aid,” UTD President Richard Benson said. “This means that more Texas freshmen and transfer students will receive financial support.”
Funding from the board plays a critical role in the university, according to UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. The endowment is expected to generate approximately $3 million for UTSA this year.
“We are so appreciative of this transformational support for our Bold Promise program and the opportunity it gives our students to study, learn and succeed at UTSA without the worries of financial stress,” Eighmy said. “Education is an equalizer and prosperity driver, and we are committed to making UTSA’s resources, as a nationally recognized research university, available to even more students so they can build a better life for themselves, their families and our community.”
