What is the Davidson Trust?
The Davidson Trust, the college’s top priority, supports Davidson’s longstanding commitment to need-blind admission and its historic decision to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need of accepted students through a combination of grants and campus employment, with no loans. The Davidson Trust makes it possible for talented students from all backgrounds to imagine coming to Davidson, and for graduates to make life and career choices based on their interests and passions.
The Davidson Trust was announced in March 2007. Davidson was the first liberal arts college in the nation to establish this type of program.
Why is Davidson seeking gifts for The Davidson Trust?
As financial aid has always been a major part of the college budget, Davidson will always need to seek support for The Davidson Trust from alumni, parents and friends. However, when the college trustees enacted the Trust, they pledged that its no-loan component would not be funded by tuition increases or cuts in academic programming, and that remains the pledge.
In the current economic environment, Davidson suggests that donors may want to support The Davidson Trust through expendable gifts to the Annual Fund.
Why did Davidson replace loans with grants in its financial aid packages?
Making a Davidson education as widely available as possible has been central to the college’s mission since the college’s founding in 1837. The minutes from an 1841 Board of Trustees meeting pledge to keep the Davidson opportunity “within the reach of many in our land, who could not otherwise obtain it.” The Davidson Trust builds on a core value of the college—that a Davidson education should be available and affordable to all qualified students, regardless of means. It builds, too, on the college’s Honor Code, which binds the community by encouraging responsibility and mutual trust.
My family has been going to Davidson for generations. Will Davidson’s new financial aid program make it harder for my son or daughter to get in?
While the increased interest in Davidson that results from the Trust will make admission more competitive, the college values its relationship with alumni and remains committed to enrolling alumni children who will thrive at Davidson.
I’m thinking of applying to Davidson. Do I need to complete a special application for The Davidson Trust?
No, a separate application is not necessary.
If I want or need to borrow money to help fund my child’s education, may I?
Yes. As a matter of personal financing, families can still choose to take out loans, even though Davidson has replaced loans with grants in the college’s financial aid packages.
How will this affect the student experience at Davidson?
Davidson’s financial aid program allows the most talented prospective students from all backgrounds to imagine a high-quality education without the burden of debt. It strengthens the academic experience of all Davidson students, by expanding the type of perspectives voiced in the classroom. And it allows Davidson graduates to make career and life choices motivated by interest and passion, rather than financial compensation.
|
