Terri Jackson Book Award
Skyrocketing Costs for Books
The costs of books has been increasing very quickly, so that now students must pay an average of $1200 a year for books if they buy all the required texts. According to a survey by the National Association of College Stores,
- 60 percent of students nationwide avoid the cost by not buying all the required books.
- Other students share texts.
- Still others avoid classes they would prefer to take because the required books cost too much.
Your gifts to the Terri Jackson Book Award can help alleviate this burden for UIS students. Donate
A Particularly Heavy Burden on First-Generation Students
The high cost of books places a particularly heavy burden on first-generation college students. Many government grants and scholarship programs, such as PELL grants and MAP grants, allow limited or no expenditures for books. In the worst cases, students drop out because the cost of books tip the balance on their ability to afford college.
Remember many students, especially those from less financially secure families, must work long hours to meet their living expenses during the college years, let alone the cost of tuition, fees, and books. Because the costs are unexpected for first-generation students, most have not been able to prepare in advance.
So much else is in place for their success—acceptance to college, financial aid that helps them to pay for tuition and fees, their personal and family’s commitment to their education, their willingness to work to meet other additional living expenses. Please help them surmount this final obstacle to success.
A Special Memorial Fund for Terri Jackson
Before her death--much too soon--Terri Jackson served as Director of Multicultural Student Affairs. She was deeply committed to UIS and to UIS students. She viewed her students and the staff as truly a second family. We have named this fund in her honor. Through it, you can bring immediate and crucial help to students--help that may often mean the difference between success in achieving their dreams and having to postpone or even cancel those hopes.
Please give because your gifts here make such an important difference for students.