Dongguk University has announced changes in the system for exemplary and academic excellence scholarships that will be effective in the academic year 2014.
The previous scholarship system was based on grade points received and the number of English classes taken. The changed system adds other criteria selected by each department on top of the previous ones. The criteria and their proportions were  determined by each department’s professors and depending on circumstances, the criteria can be changed.

For instance, in the case of the Department of International Trade’s exemplary scholarship, the criteria changed to 30% grades, 35% foreign language ability, 30% voluntary service and 5% English classes. The family income of students which took up 50% of the previous standard in exemplary scholarship has been removed as a criterion.
Despite the differences in percentages, every department is taking English class and voluntary service as one of the criteria. Many departments base the standard of scholarship on official foreign language test results, such as TOEIC, TOEF and TEPS as well, which leads to a conclusion that the school is enforcing an emphasis on students’ foreign language ability. The Department of English selected foreign language ability as 30% of the criteria, the highest among all other departments. 

Some departments added a portion for participation as one of the criteria to encourage students to participate in the departmental activities. The percentage ranges from 1% in the Department of Education to the highest being 20% in various departments such as the Department of Theater, Japanese Language and Literature, and Creative Writing. The activities include  the term beginning and ending assembly, department sports competition, seminars,and student council activities. According to an official from the Student Service Center, the decision was made upon considering the efficient operation of the department activities and for the development of every college .

Lee So-young  soybeans@dongguk.edu

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