2008 Woodie Awards
Officials Struggling to Keep Students Four Years
President says there are no plans to eliminate Israel credit
Zev Eleff
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Features
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Yeshiva officials are currently considering ways of encouraging students to remain on campus for a full four years while easing the financial burden of yet another year of undergraduate tuition. This is far from being a secret to the students, who do not always receive these efforts enthusiastically.
To date, the most successful lure takes the form of the academic scholarship awarded to top students who are "staying for the right reasons" by the Office for Academic Affairs. Last year, Vice President for Academic Affairs Mort Lowengrub's office awarded 36 scholarships to men and women, the overwhelming majority awarded to YC students. All but three of those scholarships were accepted.
"From the time I came here," said President Joel, "I have felt that for an effective YU education we need students to stay here four years on campus; both in terms of limudei kodesh and academic pursuits. Our fifth year scholarship is a start but more resources have to be mobilized to accommodate our growing student body."
Although the University is currently unable to award these scholarships to every student who applies, due to its financial situation, the President hopes that the scholarships will at least popularize the option among students on both undergraduate campuses. "The scholarship starts at least popularizing the four year idea at our undergraduate schools. Having more students stay on campus using these scholarships should encourage their peers to see the benefits of a four year education," explained President Joel.
The fifth year scholarship is not successful in convincing students to lighten their workload over the course of their first three years at Yeshiva. Dr. Lowengrub admitted that while he feels more students are considering the scholarship soon after they arrive at Yeshiva, most applicants apply after several years of maximum credit semesters. "This is my real challenge right now. I have to figure out how to encourage students and guarantee them some sort of scholarship before they accumulate 70 credits in their first two years here," said Dr. Lowengrub.
University Dean of Students Vic Schwartz sees the same problem affecting the overall cohesiveness of the campus community. "The whole sense of a liberal arts education is that you have time to think," explained Dr. Schwartz. "With their congested schedules, our students can't really enjoy the things they learn and experience as much as they could. Students are under so much pressure to get through academics that they don't have time to consider extracurricular and other social opportunities. With a little more time there would be a sense of community cohesiveness that is lacking on this campus."
President Joel believes that part of the issue is rooted in the traditional mindset of Yeshiva students. "There are students who go to Israel for a year and then attend another college and commit to a four year education. We have to make our students understand the advantages of what an extended education brings to the table including Torah learning, academics and time for extracurriculars."
When asked if the University intends to eliminate Israel credit to force students to spend four years on campus, President Joel was unequivocal in his response. "I have no intention nor support any decision to remove credits for study in Israel." The President added that "it would be completely counter to what we believe is the Israel experience."
YC Dean David Srolovitz echoed these sentiments but requests the same uncompromising considerations to be given to secular studies, too. "I do think we have to maintain and encourage study in Israel. At the same time, we have to encourage a full course of study here so that students are in a very strong position compared to students who go to other institutions."
Yeshiva officials recognize the financial responsibilities a four year education places on students and their families. The President's Office is in the midst of a major capital push. According to President Joel, one of the primary beneficiaries of this campaign will be those students who are looking to afford a fourth year at Yeshiva.
"I understand the concern there and it's a concern that has to be for us to improve the quality of Jewish education," said President Joel. "From the other perspective, it is my responsibility to get the philanthropic world to understand the importance of the special type of education we are aiming to provide for our students."
YC administrators are not prepared to wait for the higher administration to develop financial packages or advance other options to encourage students to consider a four-year Yeshiva education from the start. Instead, YC deans try to push students and parents to consider a four year stint at Yeshiva during open houses, orientations and course registration in Israel. Several Yeshiva officials told The Commentator that students and parents at this year's orientation appeared more interested in considering an extended education at Yeshiva.
Dean Srolovitz added that he will never tell students that they need to stay four years on campus. However, he certainly tells them that they will benefit from doing so.
Aside from financial considerations, the YC Dean's Office hopes to encourage students to consider a full stay on campus through other incentives. Dean Srolovitz was careful to say that he will wait for the YC curriculum review's final assessment, but is nevertheless confident that YC is actively considering options that will make the fourth year a different and unique experience for students. "We need to offer more research and other exit opportunities that will make our students stand out."
In recent years, YC has been very successful in placing its students in top level professional schools. However, the College has not duplicated this success in academic graduate schools. According to Dean Srolovitz, one of the major factors impeding this is that YC majors are not strong enough. "We require fewer credits to complete majors than other colleges," lamented Dean Srolovitz. "To correct this, we need more time with our students."
In addition, despite relatively high acceptance rates to medical schools, the Dean's Office fears that students might soon encounter difficulties when competing with students from other universities who are also applying to top ranked medical and other professional schools. "For our students, a major problem for them is that they take the MCAT in their second year before they complete all the necessary course work," said Dean Srolovitz. "If they had another year built into their pre-med calendar I think they would find their experience here much less stressful, more rewarding, and yielding better outcomes."
Despite the challenges of marketing the four year experience to students and their families, Yeshiva officials are determined to find solutions. "I can think of nothing more important than this issue," asserted Dean Srolovitz. "It has everything to do with the success of all parts of our campus."
To date, the most successful lure takes the form of the academic scholarship awarded to top students who are "staying for the right reasons" by the Office for Academic Affairs. Last year, Vice President for Academic Affairs Mort Lowengrub's office awarded 36 scholarships to men and women, the overwhelming majority awarded to YC students. All but three of those scholarships were accepted.
"From the time I came here," said President Joel, "I have felt that for an effective YU education we need students to stay here four years on campus; both in terms of limudei kodesh and academic pursuits. Our fifth year scholarship is a start but more resources have to be mobilized to accommodate our growing student body."
Although the University is currently unable to award these scholarships to every student who applies, due to its financial situation, the President hopes that the scholarships will at least popularize the option among students on both undergraduate campuses. "The scholarship starts at least popularizing the four year idea at our undergraduate schools. Having more students stay on campus using these scholarships should encourage their peers to see the benefits of a four year education," explained President Joel.
The fifth year scholarship is not successful in convincing students to lighten their workload over the course of their first three years at Yeshiva. Dr. Lowengrub admitted that while he feels more students are considering the scholarship soon after they arrive at Yeshiva, most applicants apply after several years of maximum credit semesters. "This is my real challenge right now. I have to figure out how to encourage students and guarantee them some sort of scholarship before they accumulate 70 credits in their first two years here," said Dr. Lowengrub.
University Dean of Students Vic Schwartz sees the same problem affecting the overall cohesiveness of the campus community. "The whole sense of a liberal arts education is that you have time to think," explained Dr. Schwartz. "With their congested schedules, our students can't really enjoy the things they learn and experience as much as they could. Students are under so much pressure to get through academics that they don't have time to consider extracurricular and other social opportunities. With a little more time there would be a sense of community cohesiveness that is lacking on this campus."
President Joel believes that part of the issue is rooted in the traditional mindset of Yeshiva students. "There are students who go to Israel for a year and then attend another college and commit to a four year education. We have to make our students understand the advantages of what an extended education brings to the table including Torah learning, academics and time for extracurriculars."
When asked if the University intends to eliminate Israel credit to force students to spend four years on campus, President Joel was unequivocal in his response. "I have no intention nor support any decision to remove credits for study in Israel." The President added that "it would be completely counter to what we believe is the Israel experience."
YC Dean David Srolovitz echoed these sentiments but requests the same uncompromising considerations to be given to secular studies, too. "I do think we have to maintain and encourage study in Israel. At the same time, we have to encourage a full course of study here so that students are in a very strong position compared to students who go to other institutions."
Yeshiva officials recognize the financial responsibilities a four year education places on students and their families. The President's Office is in the midst of a major capital push. According to President Joel, one of the primary beneficiaries of this campaign will be those students who are looking to afford a fourth year at Yeshiva.
"I understand the concern there and it's a concern that has to be for us to improve the quality of Jewish education," said President Joel. "From the other perspective, it is my responsibility to get the philanthropic world to understand the importance of the special type of education we are aiming to provide for our students."
YC administrators are not prepared to wait for the higher administration to develop financial packages or advance other options to encourage students to consider a four-year Yeshiva education from the start. Instead, YC deans try to push students and parents to consider a four year stint at Yeshiva during open houses, orientations and course registration in Israel. Several Yeshiva officials told The Commentator that students and parents at this year's orientation appeared more interested in considering an extended education at Yeshiva.
Dean Srolovitz added that he will never tell students that they need to stay four years on campus. However, he certainly tells them that they will benefit from doing so.
Aside from financial considerations, the YC Dean's Office hopes to encourage students to consider a full stay on campus through other incentives. Dean Srolovitz was careful to say that he will wait for the YC curriculum review's final assessment, but is nevertheless confident that YC is actively considering options that will make the fourth year a different and unique experience for students. "We need to offer more research and other exit opportunities that will make our students stand out."
In recent years, YC has been very successful in placing its students in top level professional schools. However, the College has not duplicated this success in academic graduate schools. According to Dean Srolovitz, one of the major factors impeding this is that YC majors are not strong enough. "We require fewer credits to complete majors than other colleges," lamented Dean Srolovitz. "To correct this, we need more time with our students."
In addition, despite relatively high acceptance rates to medical schools, the Dean's Office fears that students might soon encounter difficulties when competing with students from other universities who are also applying to top ranked medical and other professional schools. "For our students, a major problem for them is that they take the MCAT in their second year before they complete all the necessary course work," said Dean Srolovitz. "If they had another year built into their pre-med calendar I think they would find their experience here much less stressful, more rewarding, and yielding better outcomes."
Despite the challenges of marketing the four year experience to students and their families, Yeshiva officials are determined to find solutions. "I can think of nothing more important than this issue," asserted Dean Srolovitz. "It has everything to do with the success of all parts of our campus."