IU reworks scholarship criteria

IU announced new criteria for automatic scholarships June 1, in a move that sticks to the University’s long-term plan to attract better and more highly qualified students. But though requirements are getting tougher, administrators said the change does not mean fewer scholarships will be given out.

“We’re actively engaged in recruiting students from all over the country,” Vice Provost for Enrollment Roger Thompson said. “We’re sending out thousands of letters detailing our new requirements to show students up-front, ‘Here, we’re going to give you this much money if you come to IU.’”

The new criteria, which will go into effect for incoming freshmen in the class of 2010, include higher benchmarks for SAT and ACT scores, as well as high school GPA. IU’s automatic scholarships are awarded at the time of admission based solely on residency, test scores and GPA.

The new benchmarks are just a small part of an overall plan to raise the profile of incoming classes. New admissions standards, approved by the Bloomington Faculty Council in 2007, will raise benchmarks for SAT and ACT scores, as well as GPA, and favor students who have taken certain courses such as languages or math.

Thompson said there will not be a reduction in the number of scholarships available.

“That’s actually down to three people who have remained really committed to this,” Thompson said, naming IU President Michael McRobbie, Provost Karen Hanson and Chief Financial Officer Niel Theobald as proponents of keeping scholarship money even in tough economic times. “They, and the academic deans on the Bloomington campus, have been key.”

Despite a failing economy and rising tuition rates, officials said it is not a case of some students paying more tuition so that others can pay less.

“Whatever is decided on, tuition does not impact scholarship money,” said Sarah Booher, director of scholarships at IU-Bloomington. “We are very lucky in that we’ve had an extremely strong commitment from the administration that we would not cut back on student scholarships.”

The new benchmarks for the IU Excellence and IU Distinction scholarships, each worth $9,000 per year, have been raised to SAT scores of 1330 or ACT scores of 30 and a high school GPA of 3.8. Applicants with an SAT score of 1280 or an ACT score of 28 and a 3.8 GPA will be eligible for the IU Prestige scholarship of $5,000 per year, and applicants with SAT scores of 1170 or ACT scores of 26 and a 3.7 GPA will be eligible for the IU Recognition scholarship worth $2,000 per year.