The University has temporarily suspended the Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse, one of the two merit-based scholarship programs offered by the Brandeis Posse program, for the fall of 2010 due to financial hardship, according to Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe. Admission to the Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse has been temporarily suspended for a year, but recruitment for Brandeis Science Posse, the other component of the Brandeis Posse program, will still take place, Godsoe said. She added that current Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse as well as Brandeis Science Posse scholars will continue to receive their scholarships.

The Brandeis Posse program is one of the nationwide initiatives of the Posse Foundation founded by Debbie Bial '87 that "identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes," according to the foundation's Web site.

Posse scholars are awarded four-year full-tuition leadership scholarships by Posse partner colleges and universities.

The Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse has been at the University for 11 years, and its scholars can study any subject in the University curriculum.

The Brandeis Science Posse, which was founded last year by Prof. Irving Epstein (CHEM), requires its scholars to complete a two-week, intensive "Science Boot Camp" and enroll in introductory science and math courses in their first year of study, according to the University Web site.

The decision to suspend the Liberal Arts Posse was made last year by several parties including faculty, senior administration and the Posse Foundation. The decision was announced to department chairs and current Posse scholars in spring.

"The decision is just part of the very difficult economic climate," Godsoe said. The Science Posse has not been affected, since the University receives "some significant grant funding to offset the cost of the Science Posse," she said.

"The Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant and the Carnegie Foundation provide significant levels of funding for the salaries and operating costs associated with the Science Posse. The full-tuition leadership scholarships are provided by Brandeis University," Godsoe wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

In contrast with the science program, the full-tuition leadership scholarships, salaries and operating costs for the Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse are all provided by the University, Godsoe wrote.

Godsoe stated that the Office of Development has been working with donors in an effort to raise money for the Liberal Arts Posse. She added that proposals to different foundations have also been sent to enlist their help.

"The University is actively doing whatever it can to restore [the Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse]," Godsoe said.

Godsoe could not be reached for further clarifications by press time.

"I think it's unfortunate. I think that the Liberal Arts Posse has been a huge plus for the campus, and it's brought us some wonderful students, and I understand the times are very difficult economically," Epstein said.

Regarding the future of the Brandeis Science Posse, Epstein said, "I think if the economy continues to be in trouble, then everything is on the table, so I'm concerned."

"[The temporary suspension of Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse is] pretty upsetting, because the people who wanted to study something else other than science, they're going to be left out," Angcon Podder '10, Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse 9, said.

Reflecting on her experience as a part of Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse 11, Tamar Brown '12 said, "Well I definitely probably wouldn't have been at Brandeis without the Posse scholarship. . I wouldn't have really known to research this school in particular.