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Introduction
The College’s mission is to offer a first-class education regardless of the financial circumstances of our students, in an atmosphere of learning, scholarship, tolerance and open-minded enquiry. As those of you who have read the Annual report will be aware, while the College is doing well in the academic league tables for Cambridge our financial situation is not as buoyant. Selwyn’s endowment stands at just one third of the average Cambridge college. We wish to continue to offer a comprehensive range of subjects to our students, while also ensuring that accommodation and facilities are at a standard suitable for study and living. The introduction of loans in favour of grants, and the onset of tuition fees have resulted in financial difficulties for students, many of whom leave Cambridge with debts of many thousands of pounds. In addition, the government’s support for colleges has been reduced over the past few years and we currently face a shortfall of more than £1,000 per student per year in the cost of their education.
Case for support
Teaching and student support
The availability of funds for student support is vital if the College is to offer places regardless of the financial background of applicants. At present, the College spends more than £60,000 per year on a variety of forms of student support, from bursaries to travel grants. Our need for funds of this nature will undoubtedly increase in future.
£20 per month for one year will provide a student support grant of £300 *
The College spends £1.8 million per year on education. This includes the salaries of those Teaching Officers employed by the College, as well as paying for supervisions and tutorials for which the College fee no longer provides sufficient cover.
£25 per month for one year will provide an arts student with supervisions for one year *
College Fabric
Phases I and II of the new development have been entirely funded by donations from alumni and friends. In order to offer affordable, on-site accommodation to as many students as possible, the College seeks to continue with a building programme which will eventually add two new courts.
There is also the constant need to maintain existing buildings and facilities. Old Court is a beautiful feature of the College, but the buildings are old and are in constant need of updating in order to make them fit for living and studying in the 21st century. Likewise, the Chapel, gardens, Hall and other rooms are in need of constant attention.
£20 per month for one year will help towards refurbishing a student room *
£10 per month for one year will provide £150 towards the upkeep of the College gardens *
General purposes
In addition to the areas outlined above, there are many other aspects of College life which would benefit from extra funding. Gifts made for general purposes are especially welcome, since this allows us to channel such funds directly to areas of greatest need.
£20 per month for one year will buy 12 books for the Library *
£20 per month for two years will buy a new computer *
* These figures include tax reclaimed through Gift Aid
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