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Flemming Scholars: A Pilot Initiative

For many students, Macalester’s longstanding commitment to access plays a major role in making it possible to choose Mac for college. Tuition is not the only barrier that high-need students face in higher education. There are other immediate expenses: a laptop, a warm coat, linens for their dorm room, required course materials. There is also the acute lack of familiarity that first-generation students—15 percent of Macalester’s student body—and high-need students can feel as they navigate higher education’s so-called “hidden curriculum” of unspoken rules and expectations, which their classmates often seem to navigate with ease. The extra burdens can add layers of stress, block students from participating fully in the life of the college, and prevent them from finding their place in the Macalester community.

A pilot initiative referred to as Flemming Scholars will expand the web of institutional support and remove those roadblocks in order to foster a sense of belonging for the college’s highest-need students.

This pilot initiative aligns with Macalester’s strategic planning goal to become a student-ready campus in which every member of the community can thrive. The Flemming Scholars initiative is the first step in an ambitious long-term vision, with future priorities including summer programs, health insurance support, and a physical space on campus that facilitates community-building, fosters a sense of belonging on campus, and provides direct access to student-centered resources and support.

About Arthur S. Flemming

The Flemming Startup Grant is made possible by philanthropic donations and is named in honor of Arthur S. Flemming, who served as Macalester’s eleventh president from 1968-1971. President Flemming served as the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and was an important voice in the shaping of the United States Social Security program before arriving at Macalester. He twice received the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, first from President Eisenhower and later from President Clinton. At Macalester, President Flemming was a champion for access and was instrumental in the creation of the Equal Educational Opportunity (EEO) Program. He also oversaw creating an office of minority programs and an African American studies program, and increasing the number of faculty and staff members of color.

Use Of Funds

Flemming Startup Grants are intended to provide funds to students to help with some of the expenses involved in moving to Macalester and beginning college life. Examples of expenses that Flemming Startup Grants may help defray:

  • Purchasing sheets, towels, and other items for life in your new residence hall room
  • Assisting with the purchase of academic supplies like calculators, notebooks, etc. Please note that textbooks, online course codes, and most required course materials are covered through the Mac Books program and students won’t need to purchase these materials with an out-of-pocket payment.
  • Participating in off-campus social opportunities that may arise as you get to know your new city
  • Purchasing clothing for cold weather as fall and winter approach
  • Helping with the cost of the Macalester Student Health Insurance plan or other educational expenses
  • Anything else that you may need as you transition to college life

As you begin to navigate and foster a sense of belonging at Macalester, know that primary support for Flemming Scholars is provided by the Community Engagement Center and Cohort Program Coordinator, Suzanne Burr [email protected].  Suzanne works in relationship with student leaders in the cohort programs, supporting them in creating their vision of expanding community at Macalester.  She is also a contact for questions that arise, and can facilitate connections with our many partners on campus.

Flemming Scholars are also invited and encouraged to attend programs for first-generation college students offered by the Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice that will connect you with college resources and help you build relationships in the Macalester community. These programs will be open to students also seeking support and resource connection, regardless of identifying as the first in your family to attend college.