Columbia University Undergraduate Financial Aid Reform Campaign

Since its founding in 1754, Columbia University has continuously stood as a leader in the progress of education. With its academic prestige and focal location in New York City, the University occupies both the unique privilege and the serious responsibility to set a national precedent for true dedication to higher learning.

Today, Columbia has the opportunity to join Harvard, Yale, and Princeton Universities in ensuring that all qualified students have the opportunity to attend it. By joining these fellow institutions, Columbia will prove its dedication to the importance of equality and education.

Therefore, we the undersigned stand together in calling upon Columbia University to continue its progressive legacy by implementing the changes stated below in Financial Aid Reform's (FAiR's) 2005-2006 platform:

(a) Columbia should increase the cultural and economic diversity among its students by:
- Eliminating the family contribution from families making under $45,000 a year.
- Doubling the size of the National Opportunity Program (NOP).
- Increasing financial aid opportunities for low-income international students by:
i. implementing a need-blind admissions policy.
ii. funding travel expenses home.
iii. assisting them in finding outside scholarships.

(b) Columbia should ease short and long-term financial burdens on students by:
- Expanding work study opportunities to subsidize unpaid internships.
- Increasing subsidized summer housing to provide low-income students with academic and career-oriented opportunities in New York City.
- Providing financial support for students who work for the non-profit and governmental sectors after graduation by converting their loans into grants.
- Providing book stipends for all students with families making less than $45,000 a year.
- Meeting 100\% calculated need for transfer students.

(c) Columbia should increase the transparency and responsiveness in its financial aid office by:
- Conducting a yearly evaluation for students to discuss their experiences with and provide feedback to the financial aid office.
- Installing a mechanism to address grievances.
- Publicly disclosing more information on the economic makeup of Columbia University students and the distribution of aid.

We ask President Bollinger and the University community to work with us in order to ensure that all students can experience Columbia to the fullest.