Financial Aid Constituency Report - April 30, 2008The draft of a recent constituency report handed out by ASWU President Scott Donnell at the May 7 meeting shows students feel the recent decision to lower the GPA requirements of the merit scholarships was a “bad move”.
According to an article in the April 15 issue of The Whitworthian, the financial aid office, along with dean of enrollment Fred Pfursich, decided to reduce the minimum GPA requirement to maintain the academic scholarships to a 2.0 at the beginning of the semester
Several members had mentioned constituents were unhappy with the change at the April 30 meeting.
The constituency report polled students on how they felt about the change, whether they felt Whitworth’s academic reputation was affected, and if their own academic performance was affected. According to the draft of the constituency report, 288 students were polled.
According to the draft, 66 percent of students surveyed felt negatively about setting the GPA requirement for the merit-based scholarships at 2.0. Many of the students felt it lowered standards and motivations for students to work, according to the draft.
Some of those who felt the change was positive stated that it relieved the pressure on incoming students who are not used to the workload, according to the draft.
Seventy-two percent of students surveyed felt the change negatively affected Whitworth’s academic reputation, according to the draft.
According to the draft, “students want to increase Whitworth’s level of academic reputation to University status.”
Sixty-seven percent of students surveyed said they were either unsure of how the new minimum would affect their performance or that it would not affect it at all, according to the draft.
According to the draft, students gave a wide variety of motivations for their academic performances. Personal achievement and preparation for graduate school were the top responses given, according to the draft.
Members formed a committee to write a letter to the President’s Cabinet discussing the results.
Clubs
Members unanimously passed two new club charters for a Sociology Club and a French club.
According to the new club charter, the purpose of the Sociology Club is “to create an opportunity for those interested in the field of Sociology to advocate the sociological concepts and principles [and] to explain diverse patters of human behavior within the context of human groups.”
Senior Jeremiah Sataraka said the club is open to Sociology majors and minors, as well as anyone who is interested in joining.
The purpose of Le cercle Français is “to provide additional opportunities for Whitworth students to improve their language proficiency, build cross-cultural friendships, and to be culturally enriched,” according to the club charter.
Finances
Members passed a requisition for $774 to fund a research trip for juniors Kevin Sonnanburg and Annie Didier to Texas Tech University by a hand vote. Sonnanburg and Didier will be assisting Nicholas Willis, associate professor of mathematics, with his research this summer, according to a letter submitted to ASWU by Willis.
“Having [Sonnanburg and Didier’s] help during this time in Texas would be a giant step in making our project this summer a success,” Willis said in the letter.
Members also passed a requisition for $500 for the Colleges Against Cancer club by a hand vote.
Junior Sarah Ozanne said the club needed assistance in covering the payment for the Cancer Awareness shirts the club sold during the spring. The shirts did not sell as well as expected, leaving the club in a deficit, Ozanne said.
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