Navigating Higher Education: A Q&A with Butler University's Financial Aid Leader, Melissa Smurdon
Melissa Smurdon is the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Butler University, and a member of the working group that helped bring the CTB model to Butler.
Financial aid offices ensure students from all backgrounds have the chance to attend college, especially as higher ed expenses continue to rise. Come to Believe’s model is built around the importance of this financial support, providing the wrap-around resources that underserved students need while helping them graduate with minimal debt.
However, navigating the financial aid process can be confusing for young adults—especially ones who are first-generation college students, as most students in CTB colleges are. The CTB model ensures students are supported throughout the financial aid process, helping them fill out applications and clarifying any confusion points that come up.
One of CTB’s new partner institutions, Butler University, has a long history of working with students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education. Butler was founded by an abolitionist who believed that people from all backgrounds deserved to receive an education.
We sat down with Butler’s Executive Director of Financial Aid, Melissa Smurdon, to learn more about the school’s approach to financial aid, as well as advice for students and families who are navigating the sometimes-difficult process.
Q: What is your background and how did you become interested in working in financial aid?
A: When I was in undergrad at the University of Indianapolis, I was an accounting major, and I also worked at the career services offices. I quickly learned I didn’t want to go into a typical accounting job, and I fell in love with working with students. Moving into a career in financial aid made sense because it married my interest in math with my love of helping students and the campus atmosphere. I received a master’s degree in higher education administration, and I’ve been at Butler at the financial aid office for 30 years!
Q: What is your favorite part of working in the financial aid office?
A: It’s the people. It’s the joy of talking with families and being reassuring to them during stressful times. I love playing the role of a trusted advisor in the process—taking students through how to compare offers and how to think about their loans. It’s also the incredible team and teamwork I have at Butler.
Q: Butler recently decided to open a new two-year college that follows the CTB model. From a financial aid office perspective, what are you most excited about with the new school opening its doors?
A: I was very excited when I heard of the Come to Believe model because it’s so access-driven. I’m a firm believer that education is an opportunity for people to change their lives. However, I also went through a journey from believing that education is an opportunity to realizing that it’s not the same opportunity for everyone. At a place like Butler, cost was a factor. Our university came together to figure out solutions to bring in more deserving students from more financial backgrounds to our campus. We’ll be opening Founder’s College in 2025, and I can’t wait to work with a new set of students!
Q: What are some of the top challenges that incoming college students face when trying to understand financial aid packages?
A: When my niece was considering colleges, I looked over her financial aid packages and thought, “How on earth does someone who doesn’t work in higher ed understand this?” Standardization between schools is really hard to achieve, and colleges tend to present their costs differently. There are also so many programs—between government grants, loans and institutional aid. At Butler, we try to make it as clear as possible by reducing the amount of loan and scholarship applications students need to fill out. For students of Founder’s College, we’re expecting to provide a lot of hands-on help to support students through the financial aid process.
Q: What sort of financial aid packages will students of the new Founder’s College receive?
A: Per the CTB model, students admitted to the school would have a high level of financial need. Most would be Pell-eligible, meaning they’d also qualify for state aid. The goal is for these students to graduate with little to no debt. If they don’t qualify for a grant, we would make an attempt to cover some part of tuition. For Founder’s College students, tuition would include books, a laptop and meals, reducing other out of pocket expenses. I believe that with this new demographic, personal relationships will be crucial. My office is committed to creating student support from the get-go. We’re hiring admissions and financial aid people this summer even though the college isn’t opening until 2025. I’m excited to see where this journey takes us and experience new ways for students to have success on campus
Finding Voice and Confidence: Cheyene's DFC Experience
Cheyene Bialke graduated from Dougherty Family College (DFC) in 2022 and is now a student at the University of St. Thomas (MN)
Cheyene Bialke is a first-generation college student and eldest sibling, so when it came to college, she didn’t know where to start. However, when she heard about Dougherty Family College (DFC) from teachers at her high school, she was intrigued by the prospect of getting her associate degree. She applied, getting guidance from the college’s admissions office when she needed it, and after months of hard work, she was admitted into the Class of 2022.
DFC is part of the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was the first replication of Arrupe College, the basis of the Come to Believe Network (CTB). CTB’s two-year college model propels students towards success by keeping class sizes small, helping students get the individual attention they need to persist and graduate.
To help keep classes small and build community, DFC assigns each student to a cohort of about 25 students. Students take their classes with their cohort, and for Bialke, this small group was integral to her learning.
“Having the small cohort was so impactful to my education because I always felt comfortable asking for help, and someone would always be there for me,” she says. “I went from getting consistent Cs and Ds in high school to getting As and Bs at Dougherty, and I think finding community got me there.”
The close-knit community not only helped Bialke succeed academically, but it also helped her become more confident. Usually a quiet person, Bialke was anxious to take a public speaking class. But after everyone told a personal story on the first day, her class’s willingness to share helped her feel at ease. Public speaking ended up being Bialke’s favorite class she took at DFC.
“I learned so much from that class, both the content itself and from my classmates,” she says. “That class helped me to be a better advocate for myself and be more confident speaking up.”
DFC also provided the resources that Bialke needed to succeed. When she struggled in her math classes, Bialke used the DFC tutoring services to catch up to her peers. The professional development class she took taught her how to create a resume and LinkedIn page, how to network and other skills that helped foster her professional growth. Thanks to DFC’s career services, Bialke also secured her first internship experience as a corporate responsibilities intern and her campus job at the University of Saint Thomas Newsroom.
Bialke is now working toward her four-year degree in journalism and media production at the University of Saint Thomas. Even after graduation, she still turns to the DFC faculty and her former classmates for support, whether it's academic help or career path advice.
“It’s crazy how a school I only attended for two years has become such an integral part of who I am,” she says. “They gave me such a great community, and it’s nice to know they're always there for me.”
Brandon Thomas Found a Love for Higher Ed at Arrupe
Brandon Thomas, a graduate from Arrupe College’s inaugural class, is now a higher ed professional working at the University of San Francisco.
Brandon Thomas was the very last person admitted to the inaugural class of Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago. He was hesitant to apply at first; the college was brand new, and he didn’t know what to expect. However, this quickly changed when he saw that Arrupe was unlike any other program he had seen before.
“Before I even got to Arrupe, the admissions team reached out to me and told me that they thought I would be a great fit,” he says. “No other school did that for me. It made all the difference, because I badly wanted to attend college, but I didn’t know where I would belong.”
The Come to Believe (CTB) model is based on Arrupe College. CTB recognizes that college is more than an academic journey. By helping students feel like they belong in higher education, Arrupe and the Dougherty Family College at the University of Saint Thomas, currently the other member of the CTB network, empower students to graduate with a degree.
Every Arrupe student's college journey begins at orientation. This is a time for students to meet their classmates, deans, faculty, and advisors and get acquainted with the campus environment. Brandon remembers how nervous he was before getting out of his grandfather’s car on the first day of orientation. But the nerves quickly dissipated as he found his community at Arrupe. He met some of his closest friends and his best friend to this day.
“Creating community is such a big part of Arrupe, and having this support network around helps shape you into the person you want to be,” says Thomas.
After graduating from Arrupe in 2017, he earned his bachelor's in history from Loyola with a concentration in U.S. and African American history. Falling in love with the university experience, he received his masters from Loyola in higher education with a focus on student affairs and programming.
Thomas is still connected to the Arrupe community in many ways, though he’s since moved to California. He works as an off-campus community manager at University of San Francisco, helping connect current students to housing. Still, he often turns to his Arrupe network of advisors, faculty and fellow alums for advice.
University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx and Butler University in Indianapolis are preparing to open new colleges based on CTB’s model. This expansion means more students like Brandon will get the benefits of supportive resources and a welcoming community as they begin their college education journey.
“At Arrupe, we had our friends to encourage us, our community to support us, and countless resources at our disposal to help us succeed,” says Thomas. “All we needed to do after that—was just do it.”
Makeda Lands is Helping Build a Diverse Campus at Butler University
Makeda Lands, second from right, is the Associate Director of Admission, Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Butler University.
Makeda Lands’ path to Associate Director of Admission, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Butler University took many twists and turns—a background she says is helpful when advising incoming students who come from diverse backgrounds. After high school, she began college but never found a major that sparked her passion. She left school to pursue an acting career, worked as a teaching artist and early childhood education administrator and eventually found her way back to higher ed to get her bachelor’s degree.
“The second time around, my advisor was really intentional about getting to know me and helping me find my path as an adult,” Makeda says. “I decided to go into admissions because I wanted to be of service to students in that same way—so they know they have someone to support them.”
She found a school equally committed to the student experience when she joined Butler University. In the past 15 years in particular, the school has become intentional about finding opportunities to best support students and families—especially ones who might not feel welcome at a selective university like Butler. For example, the school adopted a holistic review process for student applications and conducted more high school outreach.
Butler wanted to do even more to attract diverse students, and decided to partner with Come to Believe to launch a two-year college in 2025. By bringing CTB’s model for a supportive two-year program to its campus, Butler can serve more students who might not have the on-paper qualifications or financial resources to attend a selective school.
“The CTB approach enables us to connect with all students, not just those who are affluent or have the best resume,” says Makeda.
A member of Butler’s design team, the working group that participated in CTB’s design grant program, Makeda was involved in bringing CTB to campus from the beginning. She hosted focus groups and learned of the deep need for a supportive two-year degree program in the Indianapolis area. When the school opens, Makeda is excited to be able to offer the same DE&I supports that students have on Butler's main campus, including access to the Diversity Center and the opportunity to join the Black Student Union and Latinx Student Union.
Bringing the CTB model to campus caused Butler to examine how it can better support its current students. Professors are rethinking their teaching styles, mentorship game plans, and advising strategies, all with the goal of making every student feel at home.
"We want Butler to be a place where every single student feels welcome,” Makeda says. “That’s how Butler approaches diversity and inclusion.”
Join CTB for an Upcoming Panel on Affordability and Value in Higher Ed
Join the Come to Believe Network for its upcoming virtual discussion, “A Smart Investment? Affordability & Value in Higher Ed” on February 28th, 2024 from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM EST.
The event will begin with a conversation between CTB President/CEO Steve Katsouros, SJ, and New York Times bestselling author Paul Tough about his recent work on Americans’ perceptions of the value of higher education. Next, President Susan Burns of the University of Mount Saint Vincent and President Jim Danko of Butler University will join the conversation to discuss their institutions’ recent commitments to affordability and access, including the upcoming launch of CTB model colleges at both campuses. Finally, we will have time for audience Q&A. We hope to see you there!
You can register here. Even if you can’t join during the event, you can register to gain access to a recording of the event (distributed afterward).
If you have any questions about the event, please contact Sam Adams at sadams@ctbnetwork.org.
Looking Back at 2023, Looking Forward to 2024
This past year marked a period of significant growth for Come to Believe. In 2023, we welcomed Butler University and University of Mount St. Vincent (UMSV) to our network—joining Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago and Dougherty Family College of the University of St. Thomas in accompanying young people who are underrepresented at selective colleges.
CTB’s Carlos Martinez (far left) and Steve Katsouros, SJ (second from left) at the press conference announcing Butler’s new two-year college.
Butler and UMSV were both part of our 2022-2023 Design Grant cohort, CTB’s annual initiative that offers institutions the opportunity to explore our model and see if it’s a fit for their campuses. After learning more about how the CTB model provides a pathway for underserved students to receive four-year degrees, these two universities determined there was a need for two-year colleges in their communities—and that they could successfully open and sustain these colleges.
Thanks to our generous community, CTB also celebrated raising over $1 million to support our mission at the end of 2023 through the Bezos Match. Mike and Jackie Bezos offered to donate $500,000 to our cause if other donors could match—and CTB supporters more than met the match! We’re thrilled to use this generous gift to help other higher ed institutions bring our model to their campuses.
As we kick off 2024, CTB is continuing to work with our latest cohort of Design Grant universities. Participating institutions are hard at work evaluating the feasibility of bringing the CTB model to their communities, aided by CTB’s customized support.
CTB’s 2023-2024 Design Grant cohort visited Arrupe College in October
In the coming months, Butler will hire its founding dean and move toward enrolling its inaugural class for its CTB model college in 2025. This spring, Seton College at UMSV will send out its acceptance letters for its inaugural class, who will begin their journey as Seton students in the fall. We continue to collaborate withButler and UMSV and look forward to sharing their upcoming milestones–and student success stories
Meet Jason Ford, Founding Dean of Seton College at Mount Saint Vincent
Jason Ford was working in higher education when he first learned about the Come to Believe (CTB) model. Arrupe College had just opened, and several of his coworkers forwarded a press release about the new two-year school, suggesting that his institution should consider something similar.
"I was excited about the concept then and knew there was a great need in New York for higher education institutions that could meet the needs of underserved students," says Ford. "Fast forward to today: It's amazing that I've been hired as the Founding Dean of Seton College, the new two-year school at the College of Mount Saint Vincent based on CTB’s model."
Ford's career journey to Founding Dean took several turns, but all equipped him with the skills needed to successfully launch the two-year college. Ford has worked in education for decades, including at Iona College, where he focused on student affairs and enrollment, and at various high schools as a principal and teacher. Because of this background, Ford understands what it takes to get students to enroll at Seton College and how to make their experience at the school positive.
Immediately before joining CMSV, Ford worked for the Sisters of Charity—the Roman Catholic religious congregation who founded the college—in another capacity. He served as Vice President for Properties at the Sisters’ Housing Development Corporation, where he oversaw affordable senior housing buildings. In that role, he frequently collaborated with government agencies, managed social services, and dealt with Section 8 funding. This experience will be invaluable in starting a CTB model school, which has a heavy focus on providing students with support services and government-funded financial aid.
"My new position brings together what I've spent my whole career doing while allowing me to continue serving a population that is underrepresented and overlooked," Ford shares.
As Seton College takes shape, Ford's primary focus is on fostering student success and making the school a beacon of opportunity and achievement. He has already begun hiring the college’s first staff members. While taking steps to open Seton College’s doors in Fall 2024, Ford is looking to the colleges already established under CTB’s model—Arrupe College and Dougherty Family College—as benchmarks for the type of success he'd like to achieve.
"My dream is that Seton will fulfill the mission it was set up to serve: to help students succeed," says Ford.
Butler University’s Path to a Two-Year College
Social justice is at the core of Butler University's educational mission. Founded by abolitionists in 1850, Butler holds the distinction of being the second school in Indiana and the third in the country to admit both men and women.
It was with this history of expanding educational access in mind that Brooke Barnett, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Butler University, and her team pursued bringing Come to Believe’s model to Butler’s campus. Barnett worked along with the school’s Transformation lab, which is devoted to finding new educational models and innovative partnerships that can advance the school into the future, to see if CTB would be a fit for Butler.
Stephanie Hinshaw, Executive Director of the Transformation Lab, notes that CTB's model left an immediate impression because it aligned with Butler’s goal of making education more affordable.
“At Butler, we’ve long had a goal of making our school more accessible by adding a ‘$10,000 degree’ or another affordable program,” added Hinshaw. “As soon as we were introduced to the CTB model, we thought we needed to learn more and see if it would be a fit for our school.”
Butler staff joined the inaugural CTB Design Grant cohort to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a two-year college in Indianapolis. Hinshaw assembled a diverse working group of faculty and staff—a design team—to ensure all perspectives were considered during the exploration process. CTB’s resources, guidance and support enabled Barnett, Hinshaw and the design team to thoroughly examine the model.
“We had great admiration for what Come to Believe was doing, but we weren’t sure if we could pull it off,” says Barnett. “I’m so delighted that we always found ways around barriers and impediments.”
The team rigorously examined the practicalities of introducing the CTB model to Butler, including assessing its financial feasibility and determining if Butler could provide the comprehensive wrap-around support services essential to the two-year college. They also surveyed Pell Grant-eligible high schoolers in the Indianapolis area, confirming a significant demand for the CTB model and indicating that local students would benefit greatly from a new two-year college option.
At every step of the way, the Butler team turned to CTB staff for guidance and to help evaluate Butler’s plan of action. After looking at the model from every angle and developing a five-year financial plan, the Butler staff realized a two-year college was not only feasible—it was the right thing to do for their community. The college—which is yet to be named—will be housed in Butler’s existing College of Education building. Following renovations to the space, Butler will welcome its first class in the Fall of 2025.
“Higher education is meant to be a great equalizer and to help reduce generational poverty, but with rising costs, it sometimes doesn’t fulfill this mission,” says Hinshaw. “At Butler, we’re changing that. We’re thrilled that students in the Indianapolis area will soon have an affordable, accessible path to a degree.”