DAN ORZECHOWSKI
News Editor
Starting this week, Fredonia students are once again meeting with their advisors to map out their academic plans. However, many students will go beyond discussing grades and courses.
Almost 600 undergraduates received the Excelsior scholarship, a new program initiated by Governor Cuomo, which was designed to make college more affordable for the middle class.
This past Monday was the official start date for Fall’s academic advising. To make sure students are aware of the scholarship’s requirements, Fredonia grouped together a team.
“We have an Excelsior dream team on campus that’s been meeting every week since April. It involves the registrar, the director of academic advising, the office of student accounts, the office of financial aid and an IT programmer,” said Dan Tramuta, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services.
The scholarship, which was announced with short notice, has a number of requirements that students must fulfil. For advising’s sake, the credit requirement is one of the biggest concerns.
According to the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), students must “be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program.”
Amy Leclair, director of academic advising, has been a key player on this team.
“[Amy] has been very aggressive in reaching out to advisors to make sure that we know who the recipients are,” said Tramuta.
If an Excelsior-eligible student were to take 12 credits Fall semester, they would need to take 18 credits in the Spring to fulfil the 30 credits per year.
“We want to make sure that this is an initiative that actually accomplishes what the governor wants — and that’s completion and graduation,” said Tramuta.
The team’s most important goal is to make students aware of scholarship requirements so that students can’t say they weren’t informed. The team has regularly communicated with both students and parents. They’ve also sent out multiple emails, and set up an Excelsior website.
According to Tramuta, “There is a lot to this program, and virtually every office on campus is touched.”