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HOSPITALITY FROM PAGE 3
in need-based aid as a result of the budget or tough economic times. But at the same time, not all students received the same financial aid package as they did last year, like sophomore political science major Nathaniel Berger. Berger received grants and work-study last year, but when he went to apply for a job as a main desk assistant, he was told the position was only for those with work-study. To his surprise, when he checked his financial portfolio online, he found no work-study had been given. As a result, he took out loans for the first time. Berger only received a small amount of aid last year, he said, but the amount was enough to make a dent in SU’s $51,960 in tuition and fees. Though he was expecting less aid following his sister’s graduation from college, a factor used in determining aid levels, he wasn’t counting on losing it all. Youlanda Copeland-Morgan, director of scholarships and student aid, said a change in federal work-study amounts is not unusual. “We have to be careful when you try to say why or why not a student did or did not get work study,” Copeland-Morgan said. Morgan said late applications or a change in family situation or income could cause a student to lose work-study eligibility. “Lots of factors go into whether a student will
have access to work study,” she said. “There are always students who may get work-study one year but not the next year. It’s the same as grants and scholarships. It’s always based upon the family’s individual circumstances.” Berger argued his case to the financial aid office and submitted a formal appeal. In return, he received a phone call telling him all the year’s aid had been dispersed and that no further aid would be given. He was placed on a waitlist, but was told it was unlikely he’d make it off. Work-study is in higher demand, CopelandMorgan said, because of increased expenses and potentially less cash at home. But still, SU is trying its best to meet the growing demand for student employment, she said. As of Wednesday, all students who were on the waitlist for work-study were granted the funds, Copeland-Morgan said. The work-study program is a federal program, Copeland-Morgan said, meaning the amount that can be awarded is not in SU’s control. But she said SU will continue to do all it can to aid its students however possible. “Of course we are always disappointed when we see that there are cuts in federal programs or state programs that could benefit our students,” she said. “But our commitment does not rely solely on what happens with the federal government or state government. So, it’s disappointing, it weakens the partnership, but we’re certainly no less committed to our students.” lefulton@syr.edu
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Program Inception: 1986 Number of students in the major: About 200 The Class of 2014 is the last class that will be able to complete the degree. What will happen? The program may be broken up into more concentrated versions of the degree, such as food studies and event management.
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