Freshman Class in the Norm

Published 9-27-07
http://www.doaneline.com/2.7185/freshman-class-in-the-norm-1.761493

Doane students are involved and they're reaping the rewards.

Only 40 freshmen students out of 259 did not receive scholarships for extracurricular activities this year, meaning that 85 percent of freshmen are getting financial aid for their involvement outside the classroom.

And freshmen aren't the only ones. The percentage of students per class that receive activity scholarships generally runs between 15 and 20, said Kim Jacobs, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Leadership.

So why the large number?

"If a lot of people want to go here, they need the scholarships because Doane is kind of an expensive school," sophomore Leslie Rosenbaum said.

Rosenbaum said she didn't have any activity scholarships, but that the number didn't surprise her.

Freshman Ross Coudeyras, however, said that he was somewhat surprised by the numbers, although he knew that a lot of Doane students were involved.

There are three types of financial aid available at Doane: activity, merit (academic) and need-based. The money comes from a budget which is divided among the three. Activity scholarships include music, theater, art, forensics and 18 areas of athletics, Jacobs said.

Students can get these scholarships by meeting certain standards.

"If you meet the qualifications for it, you receive it," Jacobs said. "It (the money given) really depends on the class you bring in. The money only exists if you have the students paying the tuition to start with."

The scholarships given might also change from year to year. For example, if a student shows need on the FAFSA one year, but not the next, the student will not receive need-based scholarships for the second year.

Jacobs said that a financial aid policy is formed each year by herself, the vice president for finance, financial aid director, admissions director and the athletic director to determine how much money goes to each area. The group also reviews how aid was distributed the previous academic year.

The group then puts together a proposal, which they give to the president, the Cabinet and the Board to approve.