The Daily OrangeSU cuts merit scholarships for 2013 class
By Megan Hess
Posted: 2/2/09, 2:04 AM EST Section: News
Syracuse University will cut the number of merit scholarships it awards for next year's incoming class so it can dedicate more funds to need-based aid, said Youlanda Copeland-Morgan, associate vice president for enrollment management and director of scholarships and student aid.
Copeland-Morgan said more than 82 percent of students benefit from need-based scholarships, while less than 20 percent benefit from merit-based ones. Shifts in the number of scholarships awarded to students will be finalized once the applicant pool has been selected, she said.
"SU has a rich history of investing financial aid dollars," Copeland-Morgan said. In the 2007-2008 academic year, SU spent $155 million on financial aid, which rose to $160 million this academic year. Copeland-Morgan projects the amount of institutional financial aid awarded will continue to increase as tuition increases, as it always does.
The shift comes after the close of the Syracuse Responds Initiative, which ended Saturday. The program began Dec. 5, with the goal of raising $2 million to help students stay enrolled at SU, despite burdens. It raised approximately $830,000, less than half of its original goal, but was able to help more than 400 students, said Sara Luke, administrative specialist in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs.
The economic downturn is hitting students particularly hard. Some cannot secure student loans due to the credit crunch; others are denied campus jobs; others have unemployed parents. As families continue to feel the impact of the recession, the demand for financial aid has increased exponentially. In addition to implementing fundraising programs like Syracuse Responds, SU has cut administrative costs and added investments.
Sukience Maxwell, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said that under the current tumultuous conditions, increased need-based aid is vital. In mid-December, Maxwell owed the university $29,000. Her mom had promised to pay the bill - that is, until she lost her job and moved to Atlanta, cutting off all communication with Maxwell. Maxwell had nowhere left to turn, so she sent a desperate e-mail to Chancellor Nancy Cantor begging for additional financial aid. Maxwell was able to secure a grant for $11,000 through the Syracuse Responds Initiative.
"There's a difference between schools that help students and schools that simply show off their students," Maxwell said. "It's SU's civic duty to attend to students, and they have the power to, so they should."
The total cost of SU attendance during the 2008-2009 academic year, including tuition, housing, meals and books, is roughly $47,820, according to the Syracuse Responds Web site.
mehess@syr.edu
Copeland-Morgan said more than 82 percent of students benefit from need-based scholarships, while less than 20 percent benefit from merit-based ones. Shifts in the number of scholarships awarded to students will be finalized once the applicant pool has been selected, she said.
"SU has a rich history of investing financial aid dollars," Copeland-Morgan said. In the 2007-2008 academic year, SU spent $155 million on financial aid, which rose to $160 million this academic year. Copeland-Morgan projects the amount of institutional financial aid awarded will continue to increase as tuition increases, as it always does.
The shift comes after the close of the Syracuse Responds Initiative, which ended Saturday. The program began Dec. 5, with the goal of raising $2 million to help students stay enrolled at SU, despite burdens. It raised approximately $830,000, less than half of its original goal, but was able to help more than 400 students, said Sara Luke, administrative specialist in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs.
The economic downturn is hitting students particularly hard. Some cannot secure student loans due to the credit crunch; others are denied campus jobs; others have unemployed parents. As families continue to feel the impact of the recession, the demand for financial aid has increased exponentially. In addition to implementing fundraising programs like Syracuse Responds, SU has cut administrative costs and added investments.
Sukience Maxwell, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said that under the current tumultuous conditions, increased need-based aid is vital. In mid-December, Maxwell owed the university $29,000. Her mom had promised to pay the bill - that is, until she lost her job and moved to Atlanta, cutting off all communication with Maxwell. Maxwell had nowhere left to turn, so she sent a desperate e-mail to Chancellor Nancy Cantor begging for additional financial aid. Maxwell was able to secure a grant for $11,000 through the Syracuse Responds Initiative.
"There's a difference between schools that help students and schools that simply show off their students," Maxwell said. "It's SU's civic duty to attend to students, and they have the power to, so they should."
The total cost of SU attendance during the 2008-2009 academic year, including tuition, housing, meals and books, is roughly $47,820, according to the Syracuse Responds Web site.
mehess@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Tom
posted 2/02/09 @ 9:08 AM EST
So SU is cutting these scholarships but giving more financial aid to low income students? What does that say about Nancy's priorities? We dont care about having the best students we can get, as long as there poor. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 2/02/09 @ 10:11 AM EST
Great. Cutting aid to students who earned it, and giving it to students who haven't. Sounds like a superb way to increase the quality of students at SU. (Continued…)
Nat
posted 2/03/09 @ 12:27 AM EST
I do hope SU grants those need based aid to the students who they really want to have here, and not just students from lower income family whose grades are so so. (Continued…)
Chip
posted 2/03/09 @ 1:00 PM EST
Typical quota-queen move by Nancy! Diversity at the cost of merit and performane? Why not. And don't bet for a moment that SU won't continue to 'compromise' addmission standards for lower-income MINORITY students. (Continued…)
Katie
posted 2/03/09 @ 9:26 PM EST
Why should my scholarship be given away to someone who has a 2.0 gpa just because they're poor? Is that what's become of America? No longer rewarding hard work and success, regardless of financial standing? This is rediculous!!!! Pretty sure SU's reputation is going down the drain, as if it hasn't already!
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