Bates, Bowdoin, UMaine System to Help Katrina’s Victims
AUGUSTA, Maine
Some Maine colleges are offering free or tuition or in-state rates to students whose plans to study this fall have been interrupted by Hurricane Katrina.
The University of Maine System is offering expedited admission and in-state tuition to students from Maine or elsewhere whose college classes were terminated or postponed because of hurricane damages.
UMS trustees Chairman Charles “Wick” Johnson, who made the announcement last week in Gov. John Baldacci’s office, said the visiting students will be allowed to enroll without following the usual application process and will receive in-state tuition.
The university will also accommodate housing, health care, counseling and financial needs of the “visiting students.”
Johnson said UMaine’s offer is part of a national effort to help hurricane-affected students. He said five students had already contacted Maine’s seven-campus university system about the offer.
“This offer applies to any undergraduate or graduate school student enrolled in any accredited institution in regions affected by the hurricane,” Johnson said. “Specific arrangements will be determined on a case-by-case basis.”
Bates College is offering free tuition to displaced students from Maine who were attending colleges in flood-ravaged areas this fall semester.
“We don’t know how many Maine students this might apply to, but we are confident that we can make room in classes for them,” said Bates President Elaine Tuttle Hansen.
Room and board will be the student’s responsibility, but Bates will offer assistance in finding accommodations.
In Brunswick, Bowdoin College took a different tack, announcing last week that it was contributing $30,000 to three historically Black colleges facing substantial recovery and reconstruction costs in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Bowdoin announced that it will donate $10,000 each to Dillard University and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi.
Bowdoin also was offering flexible payment plans for its students whose families live in areas hit hard by the hurricane.
Students interested in Bates’ special offers may contact the Dean of Students Office at 207-786-6219. Those interested in UMaine’s offer may call 1-800-804-3200 extension 3237.
— Associated Press
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
