We understand this time of unprecedented uncertainty has been challenging for many students and their families, especially as they navigate emergency expenses and other economic realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have taken steps where possible to ease the burden.
Our revised budget for fiscal year 2021 incorporates reserves for financial aid, including contingencies for students with more financial need than might have been expected before the pandemic. The following financial adjustments will be applied during the 2020–21 academic year:
- A one-time tuition credit — 10 percent, or $3,040 per semester — will be applied to students’ accounts in recognition of changes to the campus experience. This credit will be reflected on the billing statement to be issued before the end of August.
- The student activities fee ($150 per semester) will be charged for only the semester(s) students are on campus.
- Room and board will be charged for only the semester students are in residence; all rooms will be set at the double-occupancy residence hall rate ($2,710 per semester), even though all students will receive singles.
- The financial aid calculation of students who qualify for need-based aid will include a $2,000 personal allowance to offset indirect costs associated with the remote semester.
- All students with student employment (work-study) as part of a need-based financial aid package will have the student employment expectation reduced to $0 during the remote semester and replaced with a refundable need-based employment grant to be issued as a check to the student by the end of September. Additional updates to student employment policies, including recommendations for student employers, were communicated in an Aug. 21 email to campus.
The Office of Financial Aid has reviewed with care a significant number of financial aid appeals and is finalizing the repackaging of aided students, including responding to all pending special circumstances appeals. Should you have questions regarding your aid package, please reach out to finaid@kenyon.edu.