SA R47 (2015-2016): International Student Admissions and Financial Aid

Conveyed to the President

• Resolution:
  SA R47 (2015-2016): International Student Admissions and Financial Aid
• Day:
  April 5, 2016
• Action:
  Conveyed to the President
• Summary / Notes:
• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:
  Dear Acting President Kotlikoff,
  
  I would like to convey Resolution 47: International Student Admissions and Financial Aid to you. This resolution is sponsored by Shivang Tayal ’16, International Representative, Student Assembly; Saim Chaudhary ’17, Minorities Representative, Student Assembly; Binoy Jhaveri ‘16, President, International Students Union; Akhilesh Issur ’17, Advocacy Team Member, International Students Union; Haadia Amjad ‘17, President, Pakistani Students Association.
  
  This resolutions demands the reversal of the newly instated Need-Aware financial aid policy to the original Need-Blind financial aid policy for international applicants to Cornell University. The primary reasons stated by the sponsors include that the International Students and Scholars Office was not informed or consulted about the decision prior to the release in February 2016 and that the new Need-Aware policy would not accept meritorious students who were originally accepted in the Need-Blind policy if they had applied for financial aid but not received it.
  
  The resolution conveys that accepted students who apply for financial aid but do not receive aid should be given the right to choose how they fund their university education; through means including extended family grants and private scholarships that are available after acceptance into colleges. During the discussion numerous case studies and specific examples were provided in which individual students funded their education through alternative means.
  
  In addition to the direct request for a reconsideration of the policy and raising funds for international student aid, the resolution requests additional student representation on working group committees. Steps have been made to increase non-Student Assembly representation and hopefully will continue in the future.
  
  The sponsors also seek the following data:
  Annual data on number of International students who were admitted at Cornell, applied for financial aid and did not receive it (referred to as “policy affected students” here on).
  Annual data on number of policy affected students who had to leave Cornell over the last 4 years before attaining a graduation degree because they could not afford to continue their education.
  Annual data on number of policy affected students who graduated in more than 4 years.
  Annual data on number of policy affected students who have taken leave of absence of one semester or more
  
  Thank you for the time and consideration.
  
  Kind regards,
  Juliana