DAN ORZECHOWSKI
News Editor
As of last week, 641 currently enrolled undergraduate students are receiving the Excelsior scholarship, a “completion initiative” designed by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office.
Entering the scholarship’s second year, about 15 percent of Fredonia’s student population is benefiting from the scholarship. Combined, the scholarships amount to $2.2 million.
According to Lynn Bowers, director of student accounts, Excelsior scholarship funds are anticipated to be received from the state in the next couple months.
“Fredonia is currently working with our software vendor to test the process to determine if students are eligible and transfer the information to NYS HESC,” said Bowers. “Since we are testing this process, we will be among the first campuses to receive our funds.”
The New York HESC (Higher Education Services Corporation) overlook the scholarship. On its website, HESC lays out all the requirements students must fulfill to receive Excelsior — and there’s a good amount.
Because the scholarship is a completion initiative, this means students must enroll continuously. At least 12 credits are required per semester, and students must complete 30 credits by the end of the academic year.
Many students were denied the scholarship if they took a semester off for various reasons.
Excelsior-receiving students (depending on when they first received the scholarship) receive two disbursement payments. If students are unable to meet 30 credits a year, students will not be eligible for their second disbursement payment of the year.
“This will result in a balance due on their account because they had received a deferment for the Excelsior award(s),” said Bowers.
Also, a student’s family income cannot exceed $110,000. This is an increase from last year’s threshold of $100,000.
That last requirement is strictly enforced.
“I had a family come in who had an income in 2016 of $110,031,” said Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services Dan Tramuta. “They missed [the scholarship] by 31 flippin’ dollars. That was $24,000 over four years that they could’ve received through Excelsior. I was sick.”
According to Tramuta, if this student never filed their taxes, the scholarship would have been granted. But because a student’s income counts toward the $110,000 cut off, this family was denied Excelsior.
“When I told [the family], you should’ve seen the mom. She just went blank,” said Tramuta.
Shortly after the launch of Excelsior was announced, private colleges across New York expressed concerns. There was a fear that these private institutions would lose enrollment to their public competitors.
“Private schools have reacted, just like we knew they would,” said Tramuta. “They’ve increased their discounts. There was all this concern that private schools were going to be hit tremendously . . . they’ve strategized and adapted.”
Tramuta said he’s looked at financial aid packages from private institutions, and from last year, “they’ve obviously adjusted.”
If he could change anything about the scholarship, Tramuta would have it applied to the overall cost of attendance rather than just tuition.
“Free college is not just tuition. Tuition is already cheap in New York. Students who live off-campus pay rent, utilities, pay for food . . . if you really want to make a dent, [applying the scholarship to Fredonia’s cost of attendance] would’ve done it.”