UPDATE:

This afternoon, Merrimack sent out an email most likely in response to our protesting. The following is a direct quote from that email:

“Unfortunately, this outreach to students resulted in unintentional confusion that then escalated into inaccurate information spread over social media. We want to take the opportunity to clarify that financial aid will not be reduced for the limited number of students who have entered into independent, off-campus leases for the 2024-2025 academic year at Royal Crest (or other off campus locations), as long as they provide an official lease to financial aid listing all residents on the lease.”

The information spread through this petition was not inaccurate. 

Students were previously sent an email saying, “Moving forward for the 2024-25 academic year, the housing policy is going to be enforced with a reduction in institutional aid if a student isn't in residential housing. Students who wish to appeal this decision are asked to submit a letter by April 5, 2024 explaining their reason for living off-campus…”

This email states that a reduction in aid was possible, and that is why this petition was created. To prevent the reduction of aid.

We raised our voices and we were heard. Thank you to everyone who signed. Although the school may not want to admit it, the student body and anyone else who spoke out against the college is responsible for this change! We are powerful when we act together, this is proof. 

 

ORIGINAL POST:

Currently, students at Merrimack College are being forced to make an incredibly difficult choice; Live on campus or lose a large portion of your financial aid. 

When looking to further one’s education, one of the biggest factors to take into consideration is cost. Students are given financial aid depending on their academics, athletic commitments, and most importantly, their financial situation. Upon admission, students are told how much aid they will receive each year based on these factors. For most, the amount of aid they received played a huge part in choosing to commit to Merrimack. 

However, administration is now trying to take aid away from students based on their housing decisions. 

Students have previously been allowed to live off campus and receive the full amount of aid they were promised as long as they provided a copy of their lease. This is no longer the case. Students are now required to write an appeal to “senior leadership” with the hope that they’ll be allowed to keep their aid. 

Students wishing to live off-campus were never directly warned about the changes being made to their aid packages. On-campus housing deposits were due March 19th, but that date has since been extended for an unknown amount of time. Roommate forms were due March 21st. Students will be notified on the appeal of their outcome by May 1st, far after decisions pertaining to one’s living situation have to be made. 

Thinking over such an impactful decision requires time and planning; something that students don’t have when faced with current aid reductions. By making such a drastic change to how financial aid is received so late into the school year, many students are currently unsure of what to do and incredibly stressed as a result. Some may even be forced to transfer or drop out due to financial constraints.

Merrimack College claims that “affordability and accessibility to a top-tier education is a priority to all”, yet they are essentially forcing students who depend on saving money by living off campus into the incredibly expensive on-campus housing. Many students also choose to live off campus for accessibility reasons, safety, or the ability to hold a job over the summer.

Signing this petition will help demonstrate to administration that we are not okay with this. We are not going to sit idly by as they strip away the financial aid that students have earned simply because they choose to live off campus. As a collective, the student body is incredibly powerful. We are paying to be here. Our voices will be heard.