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UNM Delays Financial Aid Change

The University of New Mexico is postponing a financial aid change to tighten eligibility requirements for a scholarship for first-year students.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that university officials decided to postpone the new academic requirements for at least a year because of criticism from advocates for minority and lower-income students.

Under the planned change, incoming freshmen would have to have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or higher to qualify for a $1,500 Bridge Scholarship. That's up from 2.5.

In another change, a new aid program will provide a $1,000 grant to students who apply for financial aid and who have a 2.5 high school GPA.

Associate Provost Gregory Heileman said the goal is to provide access while attracting higher-performing students.

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