BGSU's highest priority is to open the doors to higher education for more students than ever before. Historically, our students have come from modest backgrounds; 40 percent represent the first generation of their family to attend college, and more than 50 percent work while they pursue their degree. We are proud to be the institution of choice for these students. But while BGSU's enrollment is at a 15-year high, state and federal assistance continues to decline rapidly. Today, 80 percent of our students receive financial aid, with BGSU loans straining an already-lean operating budget. As a result of institutional and outside borrowing, graduates in 2003 average nearly $20,000 in total student debt at commencement-a particularly burdensome obligation for our many graduates who go on to careers in education.

We were founded on the principles of affordability and access. But the only way we can meet what is clearly an escalating commitment-both in the number of students we serve and in the amount of support they need-is through endowed funds.

In addition to need-based scholarships, endowed funds will make possible:

Merit scholarships
These awards make it possible for BGSU to compete for academically, artistically, and athletically talented students who energize our learning community and contribute to a more diverse environment.

Study abroad and co-op scholarships
In the post-9/11 world, it's more important than ever before that young people have the opportunity to gain an international perspective in their learning. Experiencing another culture firsthand enhances students' critical thinking, gives them deeper and more complex insights into the global marketplace, and makes them better citizens of their own country. Endowed scholarships will help defray the additional costs associated with study abroad.

Graduate fellowships
A number of BGSU's graduate programs are either already in the top tier of their field or are poised to enter that tier. The continued success of these programs depends to a large degree on the quality of graduate students they can attract-and that, in turn, depends on the kinds of financial packages we can offer them. Graduate students generate knowledge, attract top faculty, and play an invaluable role as teachers and mentors to our undergraduate population.

BGSU Firelands scholarships
From stay-at-home moms looking to rejoin the workforce to laid-off workers, BGSU Firelands is a launching pad for community members looking for professional success and a chance at a different life. A branch campus of BGSU, Firelands has become one of the fastest growing campuses in Ohio by focusing on the needs of nontraditional students. Because these students already have many financial responsibilities, scholarships are critical to their success. Every additional dollar we can offer them is another dollar they'll have for food, shelter, and their families as they pursue their education-and a better life. With the addition of select four-year programs, BGSU Firelands also strives to extend its scholarship support to more traditional students.