Will Pack Promise be able to make promises next year?  In the midst of budget cuts, N.C. State’s popular and helpful program is under risk of being eliminated.

Dr. John Ambrose, Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs, talked of the program’s main purpose, financial aid

“Pack Promise is the program where we bring students in and we look at their families’ income level…a certain number of students receive the Pack Promise support package, which tries to minimize any debt they may have upon graduation.”

Ambrose also stated the possibility of Pack Promise not being around to help needy students in the upcoming academic session.

“There is a very distinct possibility that students being admitted… will be told there is no Pack Promise this [upcoming] year…[but] the decision as to whether to cut Pack Promise or to change the funding for it will [ultimately] come from the financial aid office.”

A joint effort between the Division of Undergraduate Academic Programs and the Office of Financial Aid, the future of Pack Promise is uncertain due to the many budget cuts.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” stated Ambrose.  “But whatever happens, the students who are already here we have a commitment to, and it’s my understanding…that we will honor [those commitments].  So those students’ support packages will continue.”

Regarding incoming students who qualify for Pack Promise, Ambrose explained why the future of the program remains in the air.

“The amount of money coming into the University that is available for financial aid is being reduced, both at the federal and the state level… Right now when we put together a package for a Pack Promise student, there’s some federal money and there’s some state money and also work-study money.” 

Ambrose further stated Pack Promise’s fate is uncertain due to the University not knowing how much money they will receive next year.

“There’s still some question of how much federal money [N.C. State is] going to get, when it will be available and the state is talking about eliminating some of the pools money that are available for financial aid… the majority of the money that goes into Pack Promise is actually coming from grants from the federal government or the state government.”

During this time of uncertainty, current Pack Promise students are reflecting on how the program is allowing them to attend college at N.C. State.

Cameron Dunton, a sophomore in computer engineering, applauded Pack Promise with such accolades.

“It got me into college.  I’m from a little, tiny town…[so] when I got the letter in the mail saying they were going to pay for everything I was…incredibly grateful,” commented Dunton. “I wouldn’t have [had] the opportunity to come here without [Pack Promise].  I’m really glad that I’ve come here.  I’ve grown a lot and I know I wouldn’t have gotten as much out of another school that I was considering.”

Isaac Choe, also a sophomore in computer engineering, seconded Pack Promise’s tuition benefits.

“I think Pack Promise is a wonderful program…I wouldn’t be in college without it.”

Choe also remarked how large of a part the program played in guaranteeing his higher education.

“It played a huge part,” explained Choe.  “Pack Promise is what drew me to State…I was offered money at other schools.  But this was the only [university] where I…[could] go to school without having to pay almost anything.  With other schools, I would have had to…[pay] substantial amounts. [But] I don’t have any money; that’s the whole reason I’m in [Pack Promise] in the first place.”

Dunton and Choe agreed that without Pack Promise, neither of them would have been able to attend college.  As a result of Pack Promise assisting these students, both have had the chance to motivate their focus towards school instead of full-time jobs.

“I’d rather really be able to focus on my studies without having to worry about debt,” remarked Choe.  “I know a lot of friends who aren’t in Pack Promise, and it makes me feel really grateful because a lot of them have full-time jobs.  They’re really struggling because their major is hard enough, but [they also] have to manage their own finances; so Pack Promise really took that stress out…so I can really focus on school.”

With the ultimate conclusion still undecided, only time will tell what is to become of Pack Promise.  In the event the program is dissolved, Ambrose stated needy students would still receive financial aid from the University.

“If Pack Promise were to disappear, there would still be some amount of financial aid that would go to those students. Would it be less than what they get with Pack Promise? The answer is yes.  But what I don’t know is, because we do not [yet] know the numbers, is how much less.”