Wednesday, May 24, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- Picture a college admissions process where a team from admissions, academic advising, and financial aid comes to a high school or community college. An applicant meets with the team and, after a few minutes, walks away admitted to the university with a schedule of classes for the next semester in hand and a financial aid award in place.

Such innovation in service and quality is one reason the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Financial Aid and Veterans Services Office was selected to receive the US Department of Education (USED) Quality Assurance Program's Model of Quality Award for the 1999-2000 Award Year. One of only two such awards given in the United States this year, the award was presented on May 16, at the Quality Assurance 2000 National Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Mark Williams, director of Financial Aid and Veterans Services, stated, "I am happy to see the efforts of our team recognized in this way. They have worked hard to reengineer and improve service to students." UNCW was recognized for its excellence in addressing certain quality assistance performance measures as well as financial aid innovations.

UNCW's "On-the-Spot" initiative described above is one of these. It is a program where an admissions counselor, academic advisor, and financial aid counselor travel together to high schools and community colleges for the purpose of admitting, advising, and completing the financial aid process on site.

"We are the only school in North Carolina and perhaps the Southeast that has implemented such a program," said Williams. "The level of service is unparalleled. Students and their parents are amazed that the student walks away with an admissions decision, a planned schedule, and financial aid awards."

Of the 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide, less than 150 have been selected to participate in the Quality Assurance Program. Representing UNCW to receive the award were Emily Bliss, senior associate director, Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Services, and Perry Campbell, financial aid counselor. UNCW was recognized for its use of Total Quality University (TQU) management, an initiative Chancellor James R. Leutze began in 1992.

Other UNC Wilmington innovations that have received national attention include

UNCW's partnership with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), and the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TG) to create the first nationwide financial aid Web-based training program for financial aid administrators and high school counselors. UNCW, NASFAA and TG were awarded $930,870 in a grant last year to implement this project. The site is expected to be functioning by early fall 2000.

The Financial Aid Office was also recognized for these innovations:

its partnership with the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority to employ a high school counselor intern each summer.

its implementation of focus groups to address student and parent financial aid concerns

its extensive contact with area high schools.

the establishment of a web listserv as an information source for high school counselors. The listserv system brings interested high school counselors together to discuss financial aid and other issues. UNCW responds quickly when questions arise.

the UNCW administrationís support of financial aid services for its students.



"UNCW is committed to providing the opportunity for a quality college education to its students," states Dr. Denis Carter, associate provost for enrollment affairs. "This award is a testimony to success in doing so from a financial aid perspective." Dr. Carter credits the hard work and student-centered attitude of Mr. Williams and the financial aid staff with their success.

For more information, contact Mark Williams, director, UNCW Financial Aid and Veterans Services, 910-962-3176.