Western Michigan University Foster Youth & Higher Education Initiative:

WMU has a program with three major components:

1.              Student outreach and recruitment – WMU offers incoming freshmen the John Seita Scholarship, which waives tuition fees as long as students live on their campus.  On-campus housing will be available at WMU throughout the year and on breaks. 

2.              Student retention – The WMU Foster Youth & Higher Initiative is designed to send foster youth the message that they are welcome on campus and to promote a sense of belonging that is sometimes absent in the foster care system.  The John Seita Scholarship will be renewable for each year of undergraduate study, as long as students continue to live on campus and meet basic requirements.  In addition, work-study opportunities will be available on campus.  Other services included are mentoring, academic tutoring, student networking, counseling and other student and academic support services.  In addition, this cohort of students may need additional help in catching up with life skills such as banking, budgeting, and time management.

3.              Student Career Planning – Efforts toward career planning will begin early on.

 

How to apply for the WMU Foster Youth & Higher Education Initiative:

1.              Applicants need to have applied for ETV.  Call 1-877-660-6388 to apply.  This is an admissions requirement and will help with rent and other things.  Without applying for ETV, each application will be looked at as a case by case scenario.

2.              Need to print off a hard copy of WMU general admissions application and fill it out - *write Seita Scholarship at top of application – this will waive the application fee.

3.              Go to Seita program site www.wmich.edu/fyit and read about the program.  Then, print off the scholarship application and fill it out.

4.              Send both applications in together with paperwork that will be listed on the website to:  Western Michigan University, Office of Admission Ave., 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI  49008-5211.