This issue of the Collegian features stories of students who have encountered difficulties at the hands of the College’s financial aid system. Yet it’s less of an issue of how much aid Kenyon offers and more about how the situations are handled.

Many are probably unaware, as Associate Dean of Admissions Darryl Uy stated, that merit aid is a one-time shot. Students are unable to apply for merit aid after they enroll at Kenyon. Likewise, some of the policies surrounding aid aren’t quite as obvious as we’d like them to be. The Kenyon College webpage is unclear on how the process in general works, and many students are unaware that their financial aid packages — grants, merit, loans and student employment opportunities — are subject to change each year.

We understand that the College operates within a strictly defined budget, but Kenyon could do more to help students in need of further financial assistance. All students could benefit from more transparent aid policies that map out eligibility requirements and clearly define when students can and cannot apply for aid. Furthermore, the College could do more to advise and assist current students looking for monetary support from outside organizations or from scholarship websites like Fastweb. At such a small school, students should receive the personal attention that they need.