The University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid record group consists of five series: Office of Financial Aid, University of Michigan, Outside Activities, Federal Funding Reports and Applications and Alumni Scholarships. Several accessions were brought together at the time of processing. The files include material mainly from three directors of the office, Tom Butts, Harvey Grotrian, and Judith Harper, as well as from several subordinate departments and staff. A small amount of older material from a predecessor office, the Office of Scholarships (which reported to the Dean of Men), is also included.
The Office of Financial Aid at the University of Michigan administers need- and merit-based financial support programs for students. While provision of financial support to students began very early in the history of the university, it was not until 1962 that a discrete financial aid office was established, as part of a new, comprehensive administrative structure for student affairs that replaced the Dean of Men and Dean of Women. Walter Rea, previously Dean of Men, was named Director of Student Financial Aids that year, in addition to serving as assistant to the vice president of student affairs.
In 1968-69, the office and its operations were reorganized to reflect the increased need for centralized record keeping and computerization. The policy of packaging aid, developing an individualized program of loans, grants and work for each student, was introduced at that time, as was the College Work-Study program. Ronald Brown led the reorganization effort and was named director in January 1969 when Rea retired. The office was moved within the organizational structure of the university as well, reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs rather than the Vice President for Student Affairs. Prior to the early 1970s, the office was referred to as the Office of Financial Aids or the Office of Student Financial Aid, until settling on its current name around 1972.
The operations of the Office of Financial Aid have become increasingly complex in the years since. The Office of Financial Aid coordinates and administers the university's participation in three major federal government aid programs: Perkins Loans, College Work-Study, and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program. The office is also responsible for many need- and merit-based scholarships, loans, and grants for undergraduate students. For graduate students, the office administers federal loan and work-study programs only. Most of the graduate schools and colleges have student support offices that administer scholarships and aid programs designed specifically for their own students.
For current information on the Office of Financial Aid and its programs, consult their website at: http://www.finaid.umich.edu/.
Directors of Financial Aid
| Date |
Event |
| 1962-1968 | Walter Rea (Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Student Financial Aids) |
| 1969-1971 | Ronald Brown |
| 1971-1977 | Tom Butts |
| 1977-1995 | Harvey Grotrian |
| 1995-1997 | Judith Harper (interim) |
| 1997- | Pamela Fowler |
