By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – UM-St. Louis will give out an extra $1 million in scholarships to students.
Chancellor Thomas George said yesterday the $1 million comes from an extra $2.7 million state lawmakers budgeted for the campus this year. He called the extra money a "first step" towards equitable state funding; UMSL leaders have often argued the campus doesn't get its fair share of money that's doled out in Jefferson City for higher education.
UM-St. Louis students get an average of $904 in financial aid directly from the school. The other three U-M campuses, though, give an average of $2,314 dollars per student.
George also said during his speech he hopes the university can build and open a new $24 million dormitory by the fall semester, 2006. He's made it a goal to have 2,500 students living on campus within a decade.