New fund supports undergraduate student recruitment and retention

To help meritorious undergraduate students, 51�Թ��has launched the new Opportunity 51�Թ��fund to expand scholarship, financial aid and student support programs. These programs enable the University to attract, retain and graduate outstanding students.

Donors to the Opportunity 51�Թ��fund will help the University:

Attract top-tier undergraduate students who currently receive more attractive scholarship and financial aid offers from other highly selective schools.
Support targeted students throughout their academic journeys, bolstering our retention and graduation rates.
Expand diversity by geography, academic interest, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender and other dimensions as needed.

“We welcome gifts to Opportunity 51�Թ��of all sizes and types – endowment, current-use and planned gifts,” said R. Gerald Turner, 51�Թ��president. “Together, these gifts will strengthen our efforts to recruit and support outstanding students whose lives will be transformed by an 51�Թ��education.”

Examples of Opportunity 51�Թ��impact

Through Opportunity SMU, donors support many initiatives, including:

Scholarships for high-performing students from families with limited incomes who receive Federal Pell Grants. Donors help cover the cost of tuition, fees, housing and dining. (See the story below for details about one such program.)
The University’s comprehensive approach to improving retention and graduation rates, which benefits all undergraduate students.
A selective program that helps first-year students achieve early success at 51�Թ��by promoting academic achievement, leadership and personal excellence.

In addition to launching the Opportunity 51�Թ��fund, the University announced it has already received the first contribution to the fund. Leland B. White ’72 and Monica Hillenbrand White ’87 agreed to designate a previously announced leadership gift to Opportunity SMU, providing both endowment and current-use funds.

Opportunity 51�Թ��adds to many other ways 51�Թ��Ignited donors empower outstanding students, such as through scholar programs in each school, fellowships and other support for graduate students, and scholarship and need-based aid to enhance the recruitment and retention of Black and other underrepresented students.

“The Opportunity 51�Թ��fund will drive our educational access efforts and fuel the accomplishments of our students,” said Elizabeth Loboa, 51�Թ��provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Opportunity 51�Թ��donors will directly support students at every level of their academic journey, furthering the University’s efforts to think big and do good.”

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