President Rebecca M. Bergman
One of the important areas of focus for implementation of the Gustavus Acts Strategic Plan is Strategy 1.2: Work toward fully meeting students’ demonstrated financial need. We are committed to providing a Gustavus education that is affordable and accessible for all families, irrespective of their economic situation. Our goal is clear and ambitious — we are working towards closing and eventually eliminating the “gap” between the financial aid package we offer to a student and their documented financial need.
This goal represents a positive response to the competitiveness of college admissions in Minnesota and across the United States. Prospective students and their families are more likely to consider attending Gustavus if our financial aid package is competitive with other schools of similar academic reputation. Once we are “in the game,” we can lean on our strengths and assets to convince a student to say “Yes!” to Gustavus.
This strategy is also fully aligned with our strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We do not want the cost of a liberal arts education to be a barrier for anyone who wants to attend Gustavus, including students from historically underrepresented groups and students from diverse economic backgrounds. Stay tuned for an update on our DEI strategies in a future message.
In support of Strategy 1.2, and with the help of generous gifts and grants we have recently received, we have established a number of new scholarships that are used specifically to meet need for our applicants, including the merit-based Trustee, Promise, and Heritage awards as well as financial support for National Merit Scholars. We are excited by the significant gifts in the past year that are moving us toward this important goal.
How can you support this strategy? You can encourage high school students to submit an application. And when prospective students and their families walk on our campus, we can give them a warm welcome, offer assistance if needed, and go out of our way to create a positive impression. Small gestures and big smiles can make all the difference in convincing a high school student that Gustavus is their #1 choice.
Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties!
With respect,
Becky