University Cancels Dozens Of Full Ride Scholarship Offers At Last Minute
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| (Source: James Hescock) |
*Editor's Note: This article was updated at 2:50 p.m. on 4/25/18 to include statement from the University and new blog commentary at the bottom in response.
The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) has cancelled full ride scholarship offers to over a dozen incoming international students, according to multiple reports from prospective students affected by the decision.
In an email on April 13, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Sarah Bowdin told each affected student the University had decided to cancel previously extended offers to its full ride Presidential Fellow scholarship because more applicants applied to the program than the University had expected.
The email stated, “As a candidate for the Presidential Fellows scholarship program, we want to inform you that due to extraordinary demand for this year's Fellows program, our scholarship requests exceeded the amount budgeted for this year."
“We initially thought we could include you as a Fellow this year, but the popularity of the
program was far greater than expected,” it stated.
According to UT Tyler’s website, The Presidential Fellow scholarship is for individuals with ACT scores 29 and above or SAT scores 1350 and above and who complete 15 credit hours per semester.
Impact On Applicants
As a result, the news sent many prospective international students reeling.
“Now, I won't be able to join other universities where I had been accepted because I declined their offer,” prospective student Roshan Poudel wrote in a direct message on Twitter.
“Even if they pity my situation, I won't receive the same scholarship that I had received before. This means not only was a whole year of application process fruitless, but I would have to wait until next fall to join a university with [a] good scholarship,” he wrote.
Many prospective students received acceptance letters from UT Tyler promising the full ride scholarship as early as December 2017, according to emails obtained by The Campus Conservative Blog.
Many have also already paid fees and other related expenses for their visa.
“If this decision had been delivered about 2-3 months earlier, we could have sorted out other alternatives," prospective student Roman Shrestha wrote in an email statement.
“We could have applied to other universities, and look for the appropriate funding for our further study. But we heard the cancellation almost at the end of the preparation for fall 2018. We have got no backup for this year,” Shrestha wrote.
Some affected students have taken to Twitter to raise awareness about their situation in hopes of obtaining redress.
Cancelling the full ride scholarships of many students at this very last moment of the US college application process was a very unfair decision by the University of Texas at Tyler.#uttyler #uttylervictims #iamagainstthedecisionofuttyler #wewantjustice— Kundan Chaudhary (@kundan_711) April 24, 2018
"Your Success. Our Passion." is what they say, but they screwed my career.— Saru Sharma (@sarusharma3761) April 24, 2018
@UTTyler @uttylerpatriots @PatriotTalon#patriots#presidential_fellows#justice#uttyler#uttylervictims#iamagainstthedecisionofuttyler#uttyler#wewantjustice
"We respectfully request the University of Texas at Tyler to reinstate our Presidential Fellow Scholarships for fall 2018," Sherstha wrote.
Replacement Offer
In place of the President Fellow scholarship, the University has offered affected prospective students the Patriot Scholarship, a “$5,000 scholarship that is renewable for three consecutive academic years following the initial reward,” the University email reads.
Recipients will also receive the on-campus tuition rate, a significant discount compared to the out-of-state rates international students normally pay.
However, even this leaves a significant price to pay. Without the full ride, students who accept the school’s offer will have to pay the additional expenses of room and board, books, student fees and remaining difference from tuition on their own.
Should an incoming student decline the institution's new offer, UT Tyler has promised to refund all fees and deposits, according to the email.
"We regret any inconvenience this may have caused," the University said in a statement Monday. "Even with re-offers, for 2018-19, UT Tyler still is offering more merit aid for first year freshman than ever in its history."
The Nepalese Student Association at UT Tyler did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Blog Commentary:
No doubt a tough situation for these international students. Regardless of who is affected by this decision, I believe it is in the public's interest to make sure that when administrators administer public education that they do so competently.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Twitter: @jhescock
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They've cancelled my scholarship as well. A lot of others, and I, also payed the $100 scholarship confirmation fee but it has no use now. Simply giving back the application fees won't mend the damage they've done to our lives.
ReplyDeleteHave you received any help since the story has gone national, Haude? I am sorry this happened to you.
DeleteThere's an episode from "The Office" in which Michael has to withdraw his "full-ride for all" scholarship promise he made to a classroom of students. It's the most painful and saddening episode in the entire series. This feels just like watching that episode, and I'm left wondering if my old school really couldn't afford those scholarships or if they're still pumping money into becoming a D2 school with a football team and just couldn't wait another year or two. Absolutely shameful.
ReplyDeleteAll good questions. I'm still not clear on how there are two budgets for scholarships: one for national students and the other for international students.
Delete