On Friday, Spectator sat down with Jessica Marinaccio, who was appointed to the newly created position of Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid this summer. Marinaccio, who was previously dean of admissions, discussed the operational changes to the two offices now that they have been unified, as well as the results of last semester's internal review of the financial aid office.
Some highlights from the interview:
- Marinaccio described the recent combining of the financial aid and admissions offices as no more than a structural arrangement, under which the staff of both offices will report to her, instead of to Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger. Marinaccio, in turn, will report to both Columbia College Dean James Valentini and School of Engineering and Applied Science Interim Dean Donald Goldfarb. “It’s just a different reporting structure, more direct in terms of reporting directly to the deans,” Marinaccio said. “There was a desire by the deans to have more direct access to admissions and financial aid.” The office's services will not change for students, she added.
- Marinaccio dismissed concerns that bringing the financial aid and admissions offices closer together could jeopardize need-blind admissions. “As the president [Lee Bollinger] has stated, the need-blind policy for U.S. citizens and permanent residents is not something in question,” she said, adding that there have always been and will continue be “firewalls” between the two offices.
