ASMSU sets criteria for leadership scholarship

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A joint committee finalized details for an ASMSU scholarship Thursday night that could distribute $46,000 to MSU students throughout the next two years.

The criteria for the newly named ASMSU Scholarship for Student Leaders was set by a committee of representatives from the Academic and Student assemblies.

ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.

Students will need at least a 2.75 grade-point average and a minimum of 24 credits at MSU to be eligible for the scholarship. Fifteen applicants — seven the first year and eight the following year — will be awarded about $3,000 each.

The GPA requirement was one of the sticking points during the meeting. Some representatives, such as Chris Noffze, an Academic Assembly representative for James Madison College, said he felt a 3.0 GPA or above would be more appropriate for the scholarship.

“My thought process was that the scholarship is meant for leaders on campus,” Noffze said. “I think that means they should be leaders in the classroom as well.”

Noffze said he thought there would be enough students with a 3.0 or higher who met the rest of the criteria to include a significant amount of students.

“It makes sense as one possible component to help in filtering down applicants,” Noffze said.

Before the meeting, Justin Epstein, an Academic Assembly representative for the Eli Broad College of Business, said he hoped the committee would decide on a GPA requirement that would be inclusive of most MSU students. Although the final minimum requirement of a 2.75 was higher than Epstein’s initial suggestion of a 2.5 GPA, he said it still was low enough to include a majority of students.

“Along with the consideration of financial need and leadership experience through work, I think we will find some multifaceted people,” Epstein said.
Student Assembly Chairperson Kyle Dysarz said freshmen finishing their second semester would be eligible applicants.

“If the situation calls for it, we can confirm their credits after they are chosen,” Dysarz said.

The scholarship application also will include a 300-word essay pertaining to the candidates’ leadership potential at MSU along with previous examples of leadership at MSU or in the community, Dysarz said.

Applicants will be chosen by a committee comprised of members from the Department of Student Life, the Office of Financial Aid and ASMSU alumni.

Psychology senior Patricia Dorsey said she mostly thought the criteria the committee decided on were fair.

“I think a lot of people will be able to meet those requirements,” Dorsey said. “If anyone has a GPA lower than 2.75, it makes you question what they were doing while they were here.”

Dorsey said she is concerned the scholarship’s essay could make it more difficult for students with significant course loads.

“Most students are busy being students and taking classes and doing homework,” Dorsey said.

“A lot of students don’t have the opportunities or time to get a job or join a club. If that is going to eliminate a lot of candidates then I don’t feel like that is really fair.”

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