Sluggish economy means more grants, scholarships for CMU students

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Central Michigan University has increased the number of students who receive financial assistance in response to the economic downturn.

According to the Office of Institutional Research, the number of need-based grants and scholarships given to students increased by 95 between the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years. Between 2005-06 and 2006-07, the number of need-based grants increased by 28.

Diane Fleming, associate director of Scholarships and Financial Aid, said she expects the trend to continue until the economy improves.

Fleming said CMU is trying to make up for decreasing Michigan high school graduation rates by offering awards that lower the cost of attendance for out-of-state students.

“The goal is to have a class size of a certain number and, as you may know, the number of high school graduates is decreasing every year,” Fleming said. “If we are to maintain our current enrollment, then we have to look outside of Michigan and make it reasonable for those students to consider attending CMU.”

Non-Michigan resident transfer students from four-year universities can now receive the President’s Award, available only to non-resident students who transferred from community colleges or were high school seniors in the past. The President’s Award reduces the tuition of an out-of-state student to that of an in-state student.

Transfer students also are now eligible for Board of Trustees merit-based scholarships.

Combating tuition

Fleming said all new measures taken to lessen the impact of tuition are in keeping with the university’s standard of accepting high-caliber students.

The Board of Trustees Elite Honors Scholarship was awarded for the first time this semester.

The $3,000 four-year renewable award is available to high-school seniors with an ACT score of 20 or higher and a GPA of 3.75 or an ACT score of 25 or higher and a GPA of 3.60. It was given to 673 students this fall.

Fleming said the scholarship depleted the university’s reserve funds, and more money will be requested so it can continue. CMU does not have the money to replace the Michigan Promise Scholarship if it is rescinded, Fleming said.

“Grand Valley dispersed $500 to 7,000 students, and now they’re billing them back $500,” she said. “That just underscores what all of the universities have said to date: we don’t have millions of dollars in reserves to replace a state program.”

Student reaction

Clare senior Todd Bauer believes the university should bring back the CMU Promise if the Michigan Promise Scholarship is eliminated.

“I think it would be nice if CMU responded with the CMU Promise,” he said. “CMU should lock in your credit rate and at least guarantee it for five years while you’re here.”

Clinton Township senior Shannon Kogelman said CMU cannot be blamed for not having the money to replace the Michigan Promise Scholarship.

“I don’t think Central should be held accountable if they don’t have money for it,” she said. “They should encourage the state of Michigan to not take it away.”