dents re- ceived the scholarship offer, with 85 percent accepting the offer. While it won’t work for every- body, students who have the ability to dedicate more time to school should weigh the positives of four-year degree completion, said Office of the Provost Project Coordinator Rachelle Justice. “The benefits are so great. You can earn so much more money and pay so much less in tuition if you graduate sooner,” said Justice, noting that students can save more than $9,400 in tuition and fees when they graduate in four years instead of five. A four-year timeframe also increases the likelihood of earning a degree: Recent statistics indicate that the longer it takes to complete college, the lower the rate of graduation. Lareau, who is paying her own way through college, said the money saved and the goals achieved are worth the year-round commitment. “The break in tuition is an incen- tive to keep the momentum going so I can graduate, get into a class- room and help kids as soon as possible.” Almost there. What happens when a student gets so close to earning a diploma—and suddenly, an obstacle stands in the way? For some—like Saleemah Morris—newly created funds in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL) and College of Business (COB) clear the way to commencement. The need- based award varies depending on the student situation. From the time she opened her admission letter, Morris told herself that even though it wasn’t going to be easy, she would fulfill her dream of earning a bachelor’s degree. “I didn’t have a chance to do this when I was younger. And nothing was going to stand in my way now. Even with the responsibili- ties that I have, earning my degree was a priority. It was important to me and my family,” she said. But, even with Morris’ can-do attitude, her degree pursuit nearly ended when she be- came ill and needed repeat- ed blood transfusions. “I lost my job, my car, my house. I was worried about losing my future too. I was so close to earning that diploma. I felt stuck,” Morris said. The CASL award was established last fall. The impetus, said CASL Dean Marty Hershock (’85 B.A.), was the stories he heard about students who were just short of fulfilling their degree but couldn’t finish because of depleted financial resources. “No matter the cause, the result is always the same: Students— many of whom come from underrepresented groups and/ or economically challenged populations—drift away from the university without ever completing their degree,” he said. “For these students, the negative effects are double. They lack the credential needed to ensure a strong economic foundation for themselves and their family, and they are denied the per- sonal fulfillment of meeting an individual transformational goal.” Morris’ health is now im- proved, and so is her out- look on the future. She graduated in August and credits her alma mater on helping her achieve her “for- ever Wolverine” status. “I was always able to help myself figure things out before I got sick. All the determination in the world couldn’t have helped me. But the Get to Graduation Fund did,” she said. “When I had fallen, the university lifted me up. I cannot even put into words how grateful I am. “I will forever say, ‘Go Blue.’” “The break in tuition is an incentive to keep the momentum going so I can graduate, get into a classroom and help kids as soon as possible.” 12 | Fall 2017 COMMUNITYBONUS You received a“Get to Graduation”awardwhen metwith financial hardships. Keep moving.