After failing to find a suitable candidate, the University is about to relaunch the search for its first associate vice provost and dean for admissions and Financial Aid.
In the face of upcoming cuts to the federal Pell Grant system, the University needs to reaffirm its commitment to financial aid for any student that needs it.
The impact of the reductions on undergraduates will be minor, but the cuts will likely affect 1,500 to 2,000 Cornell students who are pursing advanced degrees.
After the University increased tuition by 4.8 percent and 8 percent on Cornell's endowed and contract colleges, respectively, The Sun calls on the administration to be more transparent about where that money goes.
Following a 41.7 percent drop in enrollment from 2000 to 2010, Cornell’s Higher Education Opportunity Program now has its lowest enrollment since the program’s inception in 1969.
The average debt for a college graduate increased 6 percent in 2009 to $24,000 according to the Project on Student Debt. This, in addition to the 8.7 percent unemployment among people 18-25, compounds the effects of the recession on college students. In comparison, the unemployment rate for the same group in 2008 was 5.8 percent.
Cornell's decision to match financial aid offered to incoming students by other Ivies is a positive step for the University. But questions of equity remain.
In an effort to remain competitive, Cornell announced in July a new financial aid policy that will match the parental contribution and loan level offered to incoming students who have been accepted to Cornell and other Ivy League universities.
New Sun contributor and President of the United States Barack Obama writes about the issues facing today's college student, and how he is working to fix them.
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