Tufts University will pay the City of Somerville more than $1.3 million over five years, waive application fee for Somerville High School students

The City of Somerville and Tufts University have reached a partnership agreement through which Tufts will contribute $1.375 million over five years to the City. As part of the agreement, Tufts will also waive the university’s application fee for Somerville High School students and provide college preparation assistance for Somerville students beginning in the sixth grade.

Tufts will make annual payments to the City of $275,000, representing a significant increase of nearly two-thirds more in financial payments, from $175,000 to $275,000 per year, as well as the inclusion of the new provisions to both support and benefit Somerville Public School students.

Those provisions include Tufts agreeing to waive the $70 application fee for students applying from Somerville High School and that the university’s Dean of Undergraduate Admission will personally read and evaluate applications from Somerville High School students. Tufts will bring the entire Somerville High School ninth grade class to the university’s campus during the school year for early exposure and awareness about the college process, and will offer SAT preparation tutoring, essay writing workshops for applying students and writing workshops for teachers who are preparing recommendations for their students.

“Tufts has been a terrific community partner to Somerville and I’m thrilled we have an agreement that not only provides funding for the City services used by the Tufts community, such as police and fire, but more importantly gives our high school students the support they need to enter college and fulfill their greatest potential,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “I want to thank Tufts University President Anthony P. Monaco for working with the City on this agreement and continuing our great partnership.”

“Our relationship with the city of Somerville is important to Tufts, and I am pleased we have finalized this partnership agreement,” said Tufts University President Anthony P. Monaco. “We will be continuing our close engagement with the community and the public schools.”

Other support for Somerville students includes the Tufts Dean of Admissions sending a personal letter inviting Somerville High School top performers, as identified by the school’s guidance office, to apply for admission. Tufts admission staff will visit Somerville High School each January to offer personal interviews for students who have applied. It will also provide speakers to the high school for assemblies about college readiness and admissions; offer the Kids to College program for sixth graders; and reserve Triangle Field for City of Somerville Youth Soccer each fall.

“Our partnership with Tufts University plays a critically important role in preparing our students for success in college and beyond,” said Tony Pierantozzi, Somerville Superintendent of Schools. “We’re fortunate to have Tufts be such an active partner in preparing our students for a globally competitive market. Tufts is a fantastic partner who is involved in our school community in numerous ways, at every level. We look forward to continuing to partner with them for many years to come.”