1) Sumner updated the Committee on the initial stages of the search and screening process for a new dean of admission and financial aid, confirmed the hiring of Bryan Coy (GC 2002) as the new assistant dean of admission & coordinator of multicultural admission (begins work in mid-June), and the hiring of new admission counselor Eli Best (GC 1007), who begins work in late-May.

2) Sumner reported that total applications for admission are up slightly this year, that all admission and financial aid responses have been mailed, and that April will bring over 1,500 admission visitors to the College, mostly admitted students,

3) Sumner reported that the Faculty Board on Admission will read 10 clearly admissible applications and 10 clearly inadmissible applications in preparation for meeting with the Committee on May 7 (as per the Committee’s request),

4) The Committee resumed its discussion of the idea of test optional admission. The consensus of the Committee and others who waded in via email (e.g., current and recent Board members) seemed to be that a test optional policy for the College was not desirable at this time, but further discussion was not precluded, and

5) Sumner introduced the discussion of the NCAA’s Division III policy regarding financial aid to intercollegiate athletes. He said the College may need to examine its aid policy for athletes in light of increased scrutiny and tighter definitions by the NCAA. He thought this appropriate both because of the NCAA’s recent communications on the topic and the fact that the College was about to hire a new athletics director.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:10 PM.

Jim Sumner
Dean of Admission & Financial Aid
Grinnell College