The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee’s Report to the Board of Trustees
Fall 2006

The Admissions and Financial Aid (AFA) committee is excited by the increased student numbers, and is embracing the new challenge of how to best shape our future student body.  AFA for the 2006-2007 school year consists of faculty members Laura McClusky, Jaclyn Schnurr and Amy Staples, students Angie Azevedo and Vanessa Spears, Dean Miller-Bernal, Associate Dean Speaker, Director of Admissions Susan Sloan, Director of Financial Aid Cathy Patella, and Interim Dean of Students Kelly Moselle.

1. AFA is planning an open meeting with the Wells College Faculty to determine how to best select new students. Before this meeting occurs, AFA is identifying trends from last year, based on midterm warning grades and incoming admission data, which might help indicate student success as freshmen. AFA will use this data as a springboard for a faculty discussion on selectivity.

2. AFA is also working on matters of student retention. First, we are concerned by the amount of turmoil that occurred at the beginning of the fall semester. Most introductory level courses filled quickly, and freshmen may not have been able to take the courses that they needed, or have ended up in courses that they are unprepared for. We are working with EMT to determine how to plan for increased student numbers in the future. Second, in order to provide all students with as much academic support as necessary, AFA would like to again state the need for an Academic Resource Center.

Respectfully Submitted,



Jaclyn Schnurr
Chair, AFA