The Neubauer Family Foundation will support two new University of Chicago initiatives designed to reduce barriers that prevent academically gifted U.S. and international students from applying and matriculating to the College.
Neubauer Family Program for Students from Hispanic communities
The Neubauer Family Foundation’s gift will support a new program, in which talented U.S. high school students will be identified in partnership with guidance counselors and advisors in Latino and Hispanic communities. Selected candidates will be invited to visit campus for overnight college experience programs. Some will be offered an opportunity to attend summer session classes between their junior and senior years through the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.
Those who successfully apply and matriculate to the College will receive tuition support over a four-year period.
Neubauer No Barriers Scholarships
Another new program supported by the Neubauer Family Foundation will create scholarship opportunities for international students. U.S. universities are often unaffordable for international students from families with lower or moderate financial capacity, who are typically ineligible for American financial aid.
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This program seeks to enable the most talented to attend the University of Chicago, regardless of their home address or financial capability. It will increase the socioeconomic and geographical diversity of the University’s international undergraduate student population, as well as the diversity of academic interests. Successful applicants will receive tuition support over four years.
Both new efforts expand the University’s comprehensive commitment to support students whose background, finances and support systems may present obstacles to attending college. Launched in fall 2014 an initiative called No Barriers eliminated student loan and work requirements from financial aid packages and added a variety of new support and enrichment programs for students.
“The University of Chicago attracts the world’s most academically gifted applicants,” said President Robert J. Zimmer. “We are deeply grateful to the Neubauer Family Foundation for enabling us to find and welcome gifted students, despite barriers presented by their social, national or financial circumstances. Not only will they be empowered by a University of Chicago education to make contributions in whatever field of endeavor they choose and in whatever community they choose, but they will enrich aspects of campus intellectual, cultural and social life, and thereby the educational experiences of all.”
Joseph Neubauer, MBA’65, who attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and now serves on the University’s Board of Trustees, said that support helped set the course of his life.
“I was not yet a citizen when the University of Chicago business school offered me a scholarship,” said Neubauer, chair of the University of Chicago Campaign: Inquiry and Impact. “It changed my life. My association with the University of Chicago continues to expand my knowledge base and expand my horizons. The Neubauer Family Foundation is pleased to build on the University’s determination to broaden access to this remarkable institution.”
“We are fortunate to have supporters and friends who understand how a Chicago education will impact the lives of these students, on campus, at home and in the world,” said John W. Boyer, dean of the College. “We hope others will be inspired to create more No Barriers opportunities.”
In addition to the support for students specifically interested in the University of Chicago, the Neubauer Family Foundation gift also will expand the Admissions Academy program, in which admissions staff from the University provide families around the nation with help in navigating the college admissions and financial aid processes, regardless of where students intend to apply. Admissions Academy programs also will be offered in a bilingual setting, providing additional support to Spanish-speaking families.
For more information on these new initiatives, please click here.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
