By Malak Monir

Northwestern University in Qatar is accepting donations to create its own scholarship fund as part of the graduating class of 2014’s senior gift.

“This year the senior class decided, after talking to faculty and staff, that the most useful thing for a class gift would be to start a scholarship fund for students who have financial need,” said Everette Dennis, the dean and CEO of NU-Q.

The scholarship will be need-based with a merit component. For example, if two students have similar needs but one has higher grades, then the student with the higher grades is more likely to be awarded the scholarship. The scholarship itself is meant to supplement aid that students can receive from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, according to Emily Wilson, manager of community relations at NU-Q.

“We don’t want people to drop out before the first week of classes because they found out [that they didn’t receive enough financial aid],” said Wilson. “The idea behind it is that our students have aid opportunities from HBKU, but our students need a little more [than what financial aid provides]” she added.

According to Quinton Sprull, the manager of budget and student finance at NU-Q, it is not uncommon for students to opt out of joining NU-Q because of financial considerations.

“Every year, we’ve lost students because of financial aid,” Sprull said. “Not necessarily because they don’t have any, but because their families say it’s not enough.”

The fund is open for donations from NU-Q faculty, staff, alumni, and current students, Wilson said. Donations can be made online on a sub-page of the NU-Q website via credit card, by cash or by a check to the Business and Finance office. According to Wilson, those who donate will be given the option of being publicly thanked for their donation on the website, if they want.

Several details, including the application process, a decision on whether the scholarships will be partial or full and the time at which we will start using the scholarship will depend on how much money is raised, Dennis said.

“It may not raise a lot of money, but I think it will be a good statement of social consciousness and concern for people, not just here, [but also for those] who incur debts for their education all over the world,” Dennis said.

Dennis also added that due to the small size of the graduating class, it could be some time yet before the fund gathers enough money to be given out. “[But] it sets a nice standard for future classes to contribute to this fund.”