University reverses decision; merit aid can be applied toward study abroad
by Jillian Wagner
News Editor
News | 2/10/09
Posted online at 2:42 AM EST on 2/11/09
/ Last updated at 2:08 AM EST on 2/11/09
The University has reversed its Jan. 16 decision to make merit-based scholarships nontransferable for students studying abroad, according to an e-mail sent yesterday to first-year and sophomore students, as well as to students on the study abroad listserv, from Assistant Dean of Academic Services and Director of Study Abroad J. Scott Van Der Meid and Dean of Student Financial Services Peter Giumette.
According to the e-mail, "After careful review and deliberation, the decision has been made to make merit aid portable for study abroad for sophomores and first year students."
"It's my understanding that we would not restrict incoming students either," Giumette said in an interview with the Jusitce. "That wasn't part of the decision today simply because we aren't speaking to that population."
The merit aid scholarship policy change was initially made in order to address the study abroad program's $800,000 budget gap from "what we have spent this year for study abroad in operating the program versus what we have for next year," Van Der Meid explained yesterday in an interview with the Justice.
Giumette told the Justice in a Jan. 22 interview that Student Union President Jason Gray '10 made senior administrators aware of the fact that merit scholar letters for the Justice Brandeis Scholarship, Dean's Award and Presidential Scholarship clearly stated that these three scholarships could be applied toward study abroad programs.
"Senior administration felt that that the letters represented a promise we would honor," Giumette told the Justice yesterday.
"It's fair to say that the administration agreed that it was not something they wanted to do to recruit someone on campus under one premise and then remove their ability to study abroad," Gray said.
"I'm really glad the decision was overturned," Gray added. "I think it's a necessary reversal. I think it's a strong action."
But Gray and Alex Melman '11, a member of the Advisory Committee to Study Abroad, said they felt the University should have reversed the decision sooner, with the Feb. 15 preliminary application deadline only four days away.
According to the e-mail, "After careful review and deliberation, the decision has been made to make merit aid portable for study abroad for sophomores and first year students."
"It's my understanding that we would not restrict incoming students either," Giumette said in an interview with the Jusitce. "That wasn't part of the decision today simply because we aren't speaking to that population."
The merit aid scholarship policy change was initially made in order to address the study abroad program's $800,000 budget gap from "what we have spent this year for study abroad in operating the program versus what we have for next year," Van Der Meid explained yesterday in an interview with the Justice.
Giumette told the Justice in a Jan. 22 interview that Student Union President Jason Gray '10 made senior administrators aware of the fact that merit scholar letters for the Justice Brandeis Scholarship, Dean's Award and Presidential Scholarship clearly stated that these three scholarships could be applied toward study abroad programs.
"Senior administration felt that that the letters represented a promise we would honor," Giumette told the Justice yesterday.
"It's fair to say that the administration agreed that it was not something they wanted to do to recruit someone on campus under one premise and then remove their ability to study abroad," Gray said.
"I'm really glad the decision was overturned," Gray added. "I think it's a necessary reversal. I think it's a strong action."
But Gray and Alex Melman '11, a member of the Advisory Committee to Study Abroad, said they felt the University should have reversed the decision sooner, with the Feb. 15 preliminary application deadline only four days away.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
George Patsourakos
posted 2/11/09 @ 1:57 PM EST
Brandeis students are fortunate that the University has reversed a previous decision and has now agreed to make merit-based scholarships transferable for students studying abroad. (Continued…)
zipora Reuveni
zipora Reuveni
posted 2/11/09 @ 6:04 PM EST
I am reading the article about the ability to use merit scholarships for study abroad with great interest. My family member was a student at Brandeis and was not permitted to use the Justice Brandeis Scholarship when he was a "study abroad" student for 1 semester. (Continued…)
Daniel Ortner
posted 2/11/09 @ 8:30 PM EST
Thank you to Brandeis for giving back something that they likely were not legally capable of taking away!!
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