Up to
now, noted a report in University Business, students on financial aid were expected to pick up meal costs out
of earnings from work-study or summer jobs. However, a working group exploring
why some students couldn’t afford to buy their textbooks found that these jobs
sometimes didn’t pay enough to cover both food and books.
Starting
with the 2018-19 academic year, Brown will expand the amount of aid provided to
undergraduate students whose parents earn less than $60,000 and are unable to
contribute anything toward their university expenses. In addition to tuition,
fees, and housing, the aid package will now include a full meal plan, ensuring
students have access to 20 meals per week.
Also,
the institution will try out a separate program to pay for course materials for
students who have a zero-dollar parent contribution. Students will use a
special swipe card to purchase course materials. Only first-year students will
be eligible to participate in the pilot for 2018-19, but if it’s successful,
Brown hopes to offer the program to all needy students the following year.
“We’ve
found that some students are selecting courses based on how much books cost.
Our goal is to ensure that no student feels compelled to make educational
choices based on finances,” said Vernicia Elie, an assistant dean who was part
of the working group.
