AUC Ends Academic Achievement Scholarships

BY SARAH HASSAN

In a surprise decision last week, AUC administration moved to terminate the academic merit scholarship offered to degree- seeking freshmen.

The achievement scholarship had granted the top 25 percent of degree-seeking students a 30 percent deduction in tuition fees.

The scholarship was also awarded to students who did not receive it upon admission, but were able to maintain a 3.7 GPA for two consecutive semesters.

Vice-President of Student Affairs Khaled Dahawy told The Caravan that the decision came as the university continues to cope with its budget deficit, and falls in line with a new world- wide trend to unify the student body.

“There is this trend in the world now in American universities in general to move away from merit-based towards more financial need-based [models]. We are now trying to look for students who are in actual need,” he said.

Dahawy added that the university has no plans to discontinue financial aid.

In the meantime, the university will continue to award other scholarships for sports, culture, and empowerment to incoming classes of students.

But Mark Mohy, student senator representing petroleum engineering, fears that the administration’s decision could adversely impact the diversity

Dahawy finds it “inappropriate” and “a real shame” that students correlate academic achievement with financial gain.

“Why must everything we work toward have financial consequences? Are you telling me that you will not excel academically if not for the money? This is a very dangerous statement you’re trying to make,” Dahawy said.

Student Union (SU) Vice-President Hasaballah El-Kafrawi told The Caravan that the university’s Student Bill of Rights (1.4.1) stipulates that student representatives must be present in committees that take decisions pertaining to student life.

But Dahawy said that the decision does not violate the Bill of Rights because it only concerns newcomers.

“This is the policy of AUC that will change toward newcomers – it will not affect any student on campus who has already been promised with an achievement award,” Dahawy said to reassure the student body.

He added that the administration’s decision will likely boost AUC’s reputation because it would indicate that the university also caters to those students who are smart, highly educated, but may not be able to afford tuition fees.

Meanwhile, the SU has created an online petition to gain support against what they see as a sudden decision.

“Once we rally enough support behind this petition, we will begin to approach talks concerning this issue and take action to escalate the situation and try to bring [the scholarship] back,” El-Kafrawi said.

“We are willing to give them money to come to AUC. This is actually more community- based university,” Dahawy said.

He also said that there is a possibility the scholarship could be brought back should the budget deficit stabilize in the future.