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New
director, new ideas, same old system
By Firas Zebian---
Salim Kanaan, the Director of the Admissions Office, was appointed
as the Director of the Financial Aid Program last July, to replace
the former director Mary Kasprian. Kanaan told Outlook that
it is natural to combine the two positions since the admission
of needy students is dependent on whether these students are
granted financial aid or not. The new composition of the Financial
Aid Program team has now become as follows: Dr. Salim Kanaan,
Director, an associate director and a secretary, whose names
will be announced this week, and two staff members, Raghida
Samaha and Ghada Hajj. Kanaan says that decisions regarding
who receives financial aid and in what percentages still follows
the same previous formula based on the need of the applicant.
This is determined by the total income and total expenses of
the familiesÕ applicants as indicated in the application, in
addition to some unforeseen variables accounted for by the need
index. A committee headed by the director, with representatives
from each faculty, takes these decisions. The former director,
Dr. Kasparian, had already interviewed this yearÕs new applicants
had decided upon their cases prior to Dr. KanaanÕs appointment.
However, the new director managed to ÒskimÓ through the applications
for continuing students and those who had applied after the
deadline. Kanaan stressed that starting next year, the deadlines
for applications for both new and continuing students will not
be trespassed. The decisions regarding new applications will
be announced before the end of May for students entering AUB
in order for them to know what to expect financially. ÒRepeaters
and students on probation are not eligible to receive financial
aid,Ó explained Salim Kanaan, assuring the student body that
once received, financial aid would cover the whole academic
year. Naturally, the amounts granted vary between students from
different departments. The fees for some faculties such as those
of the Faculty of Medicine, amounting to almost $20,000, as
well as those of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
are higher than the fees of other faculties with a tuition that
varies between $8000 and $9000. While undergraduates may receive
up to 60% in financial aid, graduates are entitled to only 15
- 20% in financial aid unless they are graduate assistants.
Kanaan says his main aim is to ensure stability for those on
financial aid. This is achieved by granting relatively the same
percentages of financial aid to the students unless an obvious
change in the studentÕs status is revealed. Kanaan added that
those who feel that the decision of the committee has not been
just, can always submit a petition to defend their case. Kanaan
explained that it is President Waterbury who directly deals
with the hardship cases. A committee, headed by the President,
the deans of the different faculties, and the Director of the
Financial Aid Program, determines the overall policies of the
Financial Aid Office and manages the funds of the program. These
funds come mainly from two sources: University money, and donations.
For this year the total amount assigned for financial aid is
$6 million in comparison with last yearÕs $5.3 million. Seven
fifty thousand of the $6 million this year was allocated to
new students, while the major part went to continuing students.
The remaining amount shall go to 250 students that will be admitted
in spring, next semester. The mentioned committee also specifies
the division of funds between faculties taking into consideration
the number of full time students and the tuition fees in each
faculty. The new Director has some ideas that aim at increasing
the efficiency of the program, thus helping a greater number
of students. One plan now under study is for AUB to help students
acquire loans from banks either by insuring the students or
by paying the interest on these loans for the first four to
five years. Kanaan is also considering the possibility of starting
house visits next year, where the Associate Director could study
the atmosphere of the homes of some new and continuing students
in order to ensure both fairness and equality in financial aid
distribution. In spite of Dr. KanaanÕs claim of a clear and
systematic approach to the distribution of financial aid, many
students still believe the allocation of grants to be unequal.
Outlook would have liked to learn more about this issue and
other issues from the two financial aid staff members, currently
the only staffers occupying the offices. However, they declined
upon Dr KanaanÕs request. |
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