All members were present, excepting Professor Ketter who was out of state on a family emergency, when the meeting opened at noon on Dec. 2. Eric Staab, Associate Dean of Admission and Coordinator of International Student Admission was present as a guest of the Committee.

Mr. Staab led a discussion of possible international student admission and scholarship/financial aid policy changes at the College. Dean Staab distributed the following documents, copies of which are available from Jim Sumner and will be posted on Dean Swartz' web site:

1) A chart showing the total number of international students at GC (149), new students (43), average College grant/scholarship to all international students ($18,266), new students ($18,566), and several other pieces of data concerning GC expenditures for excellent and financially needy international students.
2) Discussion pages describing current aid policies (need-blind admission and inability to meet the financial needs of all admitted international students), and a possible new policy of need sensitive admission followed by meeting the financial needs of all admitted international students.
3) A confidential survey of the relevant admission and aid policies at Beloit, Carleton, Franklin & Marshall, Macalester, Middlebury, Mt. Holyoke, Oberlin, Smith and Swarthmore Colleges.
4) A summary of the financial needs of all admitted international students for the fall of 2002.
5) A chart showing the growth of international student applications and admits to the College between 1995 and 2002.

Following Dean Staab's presentation the Committee discussed the implications of changing existing policies, especially in the direction of need sensitive admission. One suggestion was made that the College move to need sensitive admission followed by a policy that does not meet the financial needs of all admitted students; such a policy has the advantages of managing the College's grant/scholarship budget best, and allowing the College to enroll the best students from a diverse set of other nations. As with current policy, this idea would combine the use of merit scholarships with need based grants.

The meeting was forced to adjourn at 1:00 PM because some members had other appointments, but Rohan, Arnold, George, Eric, and Jim Sumner continued the discussion informally until 1:30. Discussion of this topic will resume at the next meeting.

James M. Sumner
Dean of Admission & Financial Aid

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