Admission and Financial Aid Committee Minutes -- September 1, 2003

I. Dean Swartz called the meeting to order at 1:05 PM in the Lower Level Conference Room of the John Chrystal Center, and provided opening remarks.

II. Each Committee member introduced herself/himself; those present were students Alfredo Rivera (new), Dani Gazibara, and Rohan Mandelia, Professors Cunningham, Ketter, Harrison (new), Montgomery and Swartz, plus Jim Sumner. Sumner explained that Arnold Woods, Director of Student Financial Aid fro the College, usually sits with the Committee but that he had a heart attack 1 week ago and will be away from work for at least 1 more week.

III. Potential agenda items for the 2003-2004 academic year were discussed and the following possibilities developed:

A. admission, scholarships and financial aid for international students in light of the forthcoming report of the College's Committee on Strategic Long-Range Planning. Professor Montgomery said that the Committee will have an interim report next month.

B. athletic recruitment in the context of admission policies, specifically considering that at Grinnell the programs in music, art, theatre and intercollegiate forensics do not actively recruit students. Sumner mentioned that peer institutions that do much better in the NCAA Division III national competition have enrollment slots for athletes, preferential aid packaging for Early Decision admittees, and fly-in programs for ED admittees, winks, etc. that seem to help the departments of athletics in their pursuit of good athletes and winning teams. The Committee may want to meet with appropriate representatives of Grinnell's athletic coaches later this semester.

C. Posse Foundation student updates throughout the year, including a report this semester from Professor Burkle, Mentor to this fall's new group of Posse students.

D. Professor Cunningham said that the Committee should take a look at 2 groups of entering students and see how they fair at the College; students whose secondary school grades slip significantly after their admission to the College, and emigrant students who complete their secondary education in the US .

E. Professor Ketter and Alfredo Rivera may have additional agenda suggestions and will bring those to the next meeting.

III. Dean Swartz led a discussion of this fall's enrollment explaining that new student enrollment will be 5-10 students over the goal of 410 and that total enrollment will be up significantly (approximately 1400 on campus and nearly 1500 in total). This is due primarily to the decrease in the number of students studying off campus this semester and increased retention.

IV. Announcements

A. meetings will be once per month on the first Mon. of the month in the same location unless the Committee decides it needs to meet more often.

B. coffee in always available to Committee members in the room adjacent to the Lower Level Conference Room of the John Chrystal Center.

C. Dean Swartz and Sumner mentioned that the Committee can see a profile of the new class on the College's admission website and details of the Committee's 2002-2003 work on the Dean's website.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 PM.

NEXT MEETING: OCTOBER 6, 2003 AT NOON IN THE LOWER LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE JOHN CHRYSTAL CENTER

-Jim Sumner

AGENDA FOR OCTOBER MEETING:

I. New college ratings (see page 28 of NEWSWEEK and page 88 of U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT); Sumner will bring samples: Sumner

II. Posse Foundation student update (depending on Professor Burkle's availability): Professor Burkle

III. Academic success of warned students (see D above): Sumner

IV. Academic success of emigrant students who complete secondary school in the US before enrollment at Grinnell (see D above): Sumner