#UMassGives 2018

"We can and must do more to ensure all students have an equal opportunity to graduate. Join me in making a gift to the CNS Student Success Fund today.”      

— Dean Tricia Serio

At CNS, students are exposed to new ideas and have the opportunity to engage in research that could change not only their own lives but also the world. We are committed to do even more to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Currently, 30% of the students who enroll in CNS don’t graduate. Graduation rates matter because a degree has economic impact on both our students and our communities. By 2020, 65% of the jobs nationwide and 72% in Massachusetts will require postsecondary education, and lifetime earnings and health are greatly improved with attainment of a bachelor’s degree.

Unacceptably, graduation rates can be dramatically impacted by factors that have little to do with students’ abilities, including socioeconomic status and the educational attainment of their parents. Nearly 1 in 3 incoming CNS students is a first-generation student, and 72% of UMass Amherst students borrow money for their education. Programs have shown that we can counteract these gaps between experience and ability with intensive advising, skill development and other academic support programs. Even with a modest investment of resources, these approaches are key to helping students reach their potentials and complete their degrees.

Please consider making a gift to the CNS Student Success Fund. This fund will provide the advising and targeted academic support our students need to succeed. Thank you for your support.

To support any of the departments or other initiatives within CNS or Stockbridge, click on the “Give” button to see a complete list of departments, or select "other" and write in the area you wish to support.