James Tweed

It's that time of year, you've made it through the Admission Process (hopefully with a positive decision) and you're thinking, "There’s nothing to this college application stuff.� And that's when it hits you. All of the confusing acronyms. All of the deadlines. All of the forms.

What is it? It's the Financial Aid Process. Not to worry...with a little review and a few mouse clicks - we’ll get you through it!

Lasell College offers two types of Financial Assistance.

1. Merit Awards
2. Need based Financial Aid

To receive a Lasell College merit award, students must first be admitted to the college and be selected for an award based on certain academic criteria. Additionally, some of Lasell's merit awards invite selected candidates to submit an essay for further consideration. The Office of Undergraduate Admission determines the eligibility for and notification of the Lasell College merit awards. Lasell's merit awards are renewable for four years, requiring recipients to remain in good academic, judical, and program standing as determined by the College.

Many of Lasell's merit awards are connected to programming at the College. Check out these Academic Centers to learn more about Lasell's commitment to Honors, Service, and Civic Responsibility at - Lasell's Honor's Program, The Center for Community Based Learning, and The Donahue Institute for Values and Public Life.

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Lasell College also offers need based aid. To receive need based aid, students must apply for financial assistance by completing the following: (Click on the links below to access the actual forms)

1. Lasell College Financial Aid Application
2. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Eligibility for need based aid is determined by just that, (a student's/families need). Need based assistance may take the form of a Lasell Grant, Federal and State Grants, Federal Loans, and Federal work-study. Once a student applies for need based aid and they are determined to be eligible for assistance, they will received a Financial Aid Package that includes any merit award(s) they have been offered, and any Federal, State, and Institutional Grants they are eligible for; as well as, their eligibility for the Stafford Loan and Federal Work Study assistance will be included.

In addition, a Lasell College Financial Aid Package includes information on how to finance your education beyond what the available aid covers. This includes information on the monthly payment program, private student loans, and parent loans. The Office of Student Financial Planning provides a worksheet with each financial aid package, giving you the general cost of attendance which allows you to figure out your estimated out of pocket expense.

Lasell College's Office of Student Financial Planning is your best resource for Financial Aid questions. You can email them directly at finaid@lasell.edu.

All that’s left are the “dos and don’ts�…

DO: Complete and submit the Financial Aid Applications as soon as possible, but no later than March 1, 2008.

DON'T: Wait to have your taxes completed before applying for Financial Aid.

DO: File your Financial Aid Applications electronically.

DON'T: Compare aid packages to those of your neighbors, friends, or relatives – financial planning is as individual as the situation of the families and the students they serve.

DO: Ask questions! The Lasell College Office of Student Financial Planning is ready to answer any questions you have about the entire financial planning process.

And remember, the Lasell College Guarantee: If there are no significant changes in your student status or your family’s finances, and you complete all required paperwork on time, we will renew your Lasell College funding at the same level each year of your four years at Lasell!

Posted by James Tweed at 1:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“I brew my own beer!� I bet you'd never guess that a member of the faculty would admit to that. But, YES according to Professor Tessa le Roux she brews her own beer, and admits she is a micro-brew connoisseur. However, the question she is most often asked is "where are you from?"

Dr. le Roux is originally from South Africa. "During that time, South Africa was in transition," states Tessa. She continues, "Nelson Mandela had been released from prison, the country held its first democratic elections, and had written a constitution. Living in South Africa during such a time of transition helped shape my academic interests and conviction to social justice."

In addition to teaching Sociology at Lasell College, Professor le Roux serves as Director of Lasell's Donahue Institute for Values and Public Life and Director of International Programs at the College.

Lasell College's Donahue Institute for Values and Public Life was established in 1997 through a donation by Mrs. Nancy Donahue. "The Donahue Institute's mission is right up my alley," says Tessa. As it sponsors and facilitates activities that challenge students inside and outside the classroom to active citizenship, civic engagement, and civility.

While the Center for International Programs facilitates Lasell students pursuing International studies. According to Tessa, “Lasell students have such an advantage, as they can spend one or two semesters abroad studying at American Intercontinental University in London, Bond University in Australia, Semester at Sea, University College in England, Lancaster University in England, and Accademia Italiana and AIFS programs in Italy - just to name a few. “

"Living abroad and experiencing the culture of another country is an invaluable educational experience. It allows you to see how you fit into the rest of world," reports Professor le Roux.

Tessa's office is located in Plummer House and when she is not multi-tasking on-campus, Tessa can be found outdoors. "I enjoy rock-climbing, hiking, and camping," she exclaimed.

Her main scholarly work is in the field of gender and family studies. She has published articles in the area of gender role socialization, teenage pregnancy and single parenthood, domestic work and migration, and family ideology.

Tessa's current work focuses on immigration and family separation, with particular interest on women and migration. She is an active member of the Committee on Family Research of the International Sociological Association, and is an invited member of the Groves Conference on Marriage and Families.

Before joining Lasell College, Tessa was a Research Coordinator for PXE International, a patient advocacy group for genetic disorders. Prior to her relocation to the United States in 1997 - she was a professor, first in the sociology department at the University of South Africa and later at the University of Pretoria, where she was also a founding member of the Women’s Center.

Until recently, Tessa was on the executive board of PXE International, and was designated “Volunteer of the Year� at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. She is fully bilingual in Afrikaans and English, and speaks Dutch, German and some Spanish.

Tessa has taught a range of courses on both the graduate and the undergraduate level, and has supervised masters' and doctoral students on topics such as the effect of military service on families, and the role of teachers in political change in South Africa. She is passionate about teaching. In her own words: “The great poet Yeats said: ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’ From my very first working days training fieldworkers in a family planning program, through my experiences as a substitute teacher, professor at various universities and volunteering as a teacher naturalist for the Audubon society, I have always been most fulfilled when I was teaching - interacting, being instrumental in "lighting the fire." My position as Sociology Professor and Director of the Donahue Institute and of International Programs at Lasell, allows me to light the fire of social justice in the classroom and beyond - what more can anyone ask?"

Posted by James Tweed at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)