ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The University of New Mexico is postponing a financial aid change to tighten eligibility requirements for a scholarship for first-year students. The Albuquerque Journal reports that university officials decided to postpone the new academic requirements for at least a year because of criticism from advocates for minority and lower-income students.
Under the planned change, incoming freshmen would have to have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or higher to qualify for a $1,500 Bridge Scholarship. That's up from 2.5.
In another change, a new aid program will provide a $1,000 grant to students who apply for financial aid and who have a 2.5 high school GPA.
Associate Provost Gregory Heileman said the goal is to provide access while attracting higher-performing students.
