According to the report, "one of the major topics for discussion this year were the academic 2s," applicants who fall in the top five percent of their class, have mostly "A" grades in the most challenging program, write "outstanding essays" and score about a combined 1430 on the SAT.
The report identified 25 percent of last year's applicants as academic 2s, 38 percent of whom were admitted. According to the report, FCAFA is now exploring the question of "which academic 2s do we want?" To this end, committee members are reading admissions folders and speaking with Director of Admissions Katie Fretwell.
"This year, FCAFA began a discussion of the many ways in which financial aid affects the lives of our students," the report stated. "This fit nicely with a campus-wide conversation concerning financial aid begun by the student organization Financial Aid and Class Equity (FACE)."
The report also expressed its support for the Student Employment Office (SEO) established last year by FACE.
In addition, FCAFA judged the College's financial aid packages to be competitive with with similar schools and noted "a strong evidence of success of our no-loan policy for low income students."
The report also described results of a survey sent out last spring to the 627 students on financial aid, with 160 students responding.
According to FCAFA, over 75 percent of the respondents claimed that financial concerns limited the number of summer internships they could apply to.
FCAFA noted that, while the College presently provides some funding for financial aid students to pursue a summer internship, "students may be unaware of our current policy ... and the policy itself may be insufficiently generous."
FCAFA also explored the burden book costs place on financial aid students. The report asked faculty to remind students that the College will defer some book costs for students on financial aid, and that additional funds can be requested. It also supported a recommendation that FACE made in a letter to faculty, suggesting that multiple copies of readings be placed on reserve in the library.
"I believe faculty do put things on reserve, and I believe that financial aid can provide funds if necessary for students," said Dean of the Faculty Lisa Raskin.