Eastern Michigan University will offer more than $30.4
million in financial aid in the next academic year, increasing
the amount of scholarships, awards and grants given to
students.
"The increase in financial aid signifies our continued
commitment to students, along with our awareness of the
challenge of paying for college today," said EMU President
Sue Martin. "The increase is a key aspect of next year's
budget, and is at the center of our mission to serve our
students."
 |
HITTING THE BOOKS: This Eastern Michigan
University student catches up on her studies
outside
near Mark Jefferson. The EMU Board of
Regents approved
more than $30.4 million in
financial aid for students
for 2010-2011. The
funding will go for student
scholarships, awards
and grants.
|
Martin also cited EMU's tuition increase of 3.8 percent
this fall, the lowest percentage increase of any of Michigan's
15 public universities.
Bernice Lindke, vice president for student affairs and
enrollment management, noted the aid increase is part of
a trend at EMU.
"In just three years, the University has increased student
financial aid by almost $9 million, or 42 percent," she
said.
Next year's increase represents a jump of more than $4.8
million, or 19 percent, from this year's originally approved
budgeted total of more than $25.5 million in aid, and an
increase of more than $1.4 million, or 5 percent, from
this year's forecasted actual total of nearly $29 million
in financial aid.
This year's financial aid total was revised upward by
about $3.4 million because of EMU's increase in enrollment.
New and returning student enrollment for fall 2009 increased
by 933 students over last year, a rise of more than 4 percent.
Eastern Michigan bestowed 698 more academic achievement
awards than the previous year, along with 455 more need-based
awards.
This year, the additional funding is helping to meet the
increased number of new and returning students qualifying
for academic scholarships, along with assisting the increased
number of students applying for need-based aid and appealing
for additional funding because of a job loss. Those trends
are expected to continue next year.
The breakdown of the financial aid for 2010-2011 is as
follows: scholarships, awards and grants, $18.1 million;
athletic grants-in-aid, $7 million; federal and state matches,
$772,000; and more than $4.4 million in graduate student
aid.
The EMU Board of Regents approved the increase at its
meeting Oct. 20.
