Ignatian Learning Communities at Saint Peter ’ s Prep

1. Ignatian Learning Communities at Saint Peter’s Prep Financial Aid and Fulfilling Mission

2. Purpose • ILCs created to focus on different departments at the school and how they can be more “ignatian” in their decision making • Each faculty member filled out a survey that listed their top 3 choices of ILC groups. Each group was led by a member of the administrative team and co-chaired by a faculty member. • After the groups were populated, we met 6 times throughout the year for one hour on Wednesday mornings. • At the conclusion of the year the principal asked for write-ups for each group with recommendations for the following year.

3. The Student Life ILC: • Focus on increasing dynamic of “school spirit” • Examine the information flow and communication regarding events • Look at Prep Day, Mission Drive, Spirit Week, Rallies • How to handle “winter doldrums”

4. Diversity ILC: • We need a definition of diversity. • Are our students empowered to be themselves? • Do our marketing materials adequately express who we are? • Does our curriculum adequately reflect our diversity? • Is our faculty formation process preparing us to teach in such a diverse school?

5. The Guidance and College Counseling ILC: • For college counseling, are we using data well? Are we communicating well with all constituents? • For guidance, focus on drug and alcohol issues, crisis counseling. • Recommendations include more regular communication between Deans, Campus Ministry, and Guidance. • Looking for collaboration with English Dept. on college essays.

6. The Campus Ministry ILC: Focus of the group was two-fold: • How can we help young alumni who experienced meaningful retreats and connections at Prep but are not always finding this in college? • How do we respond to the non-Catholics in our community?

7. The Technology ILC: Input was gathered on how technology can enhance the educational experience for students and faculty. Several ideas discussed: • E-books and E-Book Lending Library (implemented). • I-Pad connectors and Apple TV in classrooms. • Loaner Pool of devices available for students. • More training for faculty and staff. • Efficacy of on-line classes.

8. The Athletics ILC: Focus of this group was on the NCAA Recruiting Guidelines and the following questions: • Does our curriculum meet/exceed NCAA standards? • Do we need improvements in any area for student-athletes? • How can we enhance the faculty/staff understanding of the guidelines? • How can we effectively implement NCAA guidelines to assist our student-athletes and their families?

9. The Facilities/Operations ILC: This group was most heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy and the devastation experienced at Prep and by many employees in their homes. Two recommendations: • The Operations Staff will have more of a presence in the • Humanities Building to better assist faculty, staff, and students. • Our commitment to recycling, emphasized in this year’s Arrupe • Lecture Series on the environment, will be strengthened in the next years.

10. The Academics ILC: This group examined the new schedule and its effect on curriculum. Topics examined: • Mid-term examinations. • Math Lab and Writing Lab effectiveness. • Curriculum Mapping and the new schedule. • The use of X/Y (extended time) days: what is the right mix of creativity and curriculum? What are the best practices?

11. Financial Aid at SPP

12. Admissions ILC • Mission: To provide a better way to support our students with financial need • Early on we focused on trying to understand the issues that many students in need dealt with. • Following these meetings, we created a list of all of the issues that we saw for a student in financial need at Saint Peter’s Prep. • This list included clothing, school supplies, lunch, junior rings, varsity letter jackets, prom, retreats, admission into sporting events, immersion trips, foreign exchanges, and many others

13. Prioritizing • Of the items that the group listed we used a numerical system to establish what expenses for students are most essential and least essential • After deliberating in our meetings we all agreed that school supplies, food, and clothes were some of the most essential expenses at Saint Peter’s • Aside from this, we discussed the issues that students run into with prom and other activities that rely on high costs • For many of our highest need students, activities like retreats and the prom became a difficulty based solely on the expenses that those endeavors incur

14. Call to Action • After prioritizing, the group decided to finally create some initiatives to counteract the issues that many of our students with financial need experience. • One major initiative the group decided on is the creation of Brother Paul’s Clothes Closet. • This initiative creates a shop for incoming students to buy dress shirts, ties, jackets, and any other essential clothing they will need. • There will be a nominal fee, such as, $1 for every dress shirt purchased.

15. Call to Action • The nominal fee will then be recycled into a “slush fund” for all students with major need, which will also be supported by other fundraising efforts • This fund or Enrichment Program will then be used to pay for extra-curricular activities like the prom where costs can prevent students from participating in the full Prep experience. • Group is still working on concrete system for books, but have discussed the possibility of gather used books and providing them in the clothes shop as well

16. Additional Initiatives Academic Scholarships: • Beginning in Fall 2013, our policy changes so that a family can receive the combination of both an academic scholarship need based financial aid • Impact on budget: • Will cost an additional $54,500

17. Additional Initiatives • Work Study Program • Opportunity for additional financial aid • Work during summer and school year • Three Programs • Work Study I (All Years) • Work Study II (Juniors and Seniors) • Student Jobs Program

18. Proposals to Board of Trustees • Proposal 1 • Raise Minimum Award to $7,000 • Increase maximum financial aid award from $5,000 to $7,000 • Impact on Budget: • Increase Financial Aid Budget from $2,192,500 to $2,479, 277 • Increase is $286,777 (Technically total number will be above this based on tuition hikes) • Approx. $70,000 per $500 increase

19. Proposals to Board of Trustees • Proposal 2 • Full Need • Award families full financial need as recommended by FAIR • Impact on Budget: • Increase Financial Aid Budget from $2,192,500 to $3,087,318 • Increase is $894,818