Bellarmine University will participate in the Fifth Annual Kentucky Private College Week from July 14 to 18. Kentucky Private College Week is a coordinated effort by the state’s 20 nonprofit, independent colleges and universities to provide students and families an easy way to explore a variety of college campuses during the summer.
A single point of registration at www.kentuckyprivatecolleges.org and common visit times at all 20 campuses - 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (local time) daily - make it easy for prospective students to plan campus visits.
“We want people to see these campuses firsthand and have an opportunity to talk with staff and current students about the admissions process and financial aid,” said Mason Dyer of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, which sponsors the event. “Many people are surprised to find out how attainable and affordable an independent college education can be.”
The 20 participating campuses serve students from all income levels. Four out of 10 students who attend Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities qualify for a Pell Grant, the federal student aid program for people with high financial need. Together, the 20 campuses provide more than $150 million annually in student financial aid and scholarships. Students attending AIKCU institutions also qualify for state student financial aid programs.
In addition to the two daily sessions, select campuses will host special evening information sessions for working adults interested in pursuing a degree. More than one in five students at Kentucky’s independent colleges is at least 25 years old.
“While non-traditional students are always welcome at all campuses, more than half of Kentucky’s independent colleges offer special opportunities for working adults,” Dyer said. “These may include degree-completion programs, evening or weekend classes, online learning, extended campuses, or participation in special programs such as Project Graduate.”
Project Graduate is a statewide initiative to help students with 90 or more credit hours finish a baccalaureate degree.
Visitors receive an application fee waiver for every campus they visit during Private College Week. Prizes to be given away during the week include t-shirts, gas cards and other items.
“Kentucky Private College Week is the perfect road-trip opportunity,” Dyer said. “Our campuses are located across Kentucky, from Pikeville to Mayfield, in great cities and towns, and in some of the most beautiful places in the entire country. With gas prices keeping people closer to home this summer, we see this as a great chance to see Kentucky while also preparing for the future.”
To learn more visit the Kentucky Private College Week blog at www.kentuckyprivatecolleges.org. There you can register, see videos featuring current students, learn more about participating campuses, get directions, and see the latest news about Kentucky’s private colleges. Or call the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities at (502) 695-5007 for more information.