The SAT scores of admitted students remained about the same as last year with an average of a 665 verbal and 638 math, Director of Admissions Deborah Chermote reported at the College Faculty meeting Tuesday. She said the SAT scores of admitted students have remained consistent over the past several years.
Chermonte said the number of applicants dropped 2 percent from last year, from 3720 to 3641. She said the decline reflected a nation-wide trend among liberal arts colleges.
Chermonte quoted the entrance statistics for this admissions cycle at the meeting. She said the applicants overall were slightly stronger this year than in the past, but also said that, in a more negative light, she was worried about students' writing abilities. She cited secondary schooling as the probable reason for the decline.
Director of Financial Aid, Howard Thomas, also spoke at the meeting. As of March 31, $15 million had been offered in financial aid. He said the average financial need was $18,300 and the average scholarship to needy students was $12,700. $1.5 million was allotted in merit money.
"As of right now, things are looking good," Thomas said. He said the awards were sent out earlier this year than in previous years. Students are waiting until other schools get out their awards before deciding whether to accept Oberlin offers, so the financial aid office has gotten fewer phone calls, Thomas said.
"We're sort of at an awkward time. We're trying to get needy students, but we reach a point where we realize the better a job we do [recruiting students who need financial aid," the chances increase of the College having a budget crisis.
He said the average income of parents of students offered financial aid was $58,000.
Thomas said the scholarships are larger than they have been in the past owing in part to a change in policy by the Board of Trustees in March. The policy change concerned how the financial aid office treated outside scholarships. He said the policy change saved $200,000 which was available for scholarships.
The status of the long process of long-term planning roused little attention from faculty and administrators at the meeting. Both the President of the College Nancy Dye and dean of the College Clayton Koppes were less than enthusiastic about more talk over the ongoing process, however they were excited about the upcoming transitions in the process. Dean of the College, Clayton Koppes reported the schedule of events for the teams.
From April 13 to May 20, five meetings will provide opportunities for discussion on the planning proposals for faculty members.
"The planning teams are in the final days, literally, in preparing their reports," Koppes said.
Koppes also reported Associate Professors of Psychology Patricia deWinstanley and James Tanaki, Associate Professor of Geology Kieth Meldahl and Associate Professor of Mathematics James A. Walsh were re-appointed to tenure and promoted to Associate Professorships. Caroline Jackson Smith , associate professor of Theater and African American studies was also re-appointed to tenure.
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