By Kazuki Nakata

Sapporo University decided to introduce a "scholarship entrance system" from next year. This system exempts the top five percent of students admitted to the university from paying tuition for four years. In 2006, however, only the students who take the general entrance examination are eligible for this scholarship. When this system is completely implemented in the year 2007 about 80 students from all faculties combined will be granted this benefit as long as the admission quota remains as it is. Selection of the honor students is quite simple; the top five percent of students from each faculty who take the general entrance examination are chosen. However, the students who enter as an honor student must maintain a high GPA (Grade Point Average) each semester for four years in order to keep their scholarship.

Although President Akio Miyakoshi was busy, he spared some time to be interviewed about this system. He welcomed us with a smile and replied to our questions gently and carefully. We asked him what the purpose of this system is. He said, "Weﾕd like to permit bright students to enter by granting this scholarship and upon graduation hope they work for business of good standing, or as teachers or public servants, which will show our high level of education to the world." He went on to say, "We want to assist those who are not able to go to university because of economical difficulties even though they are diligent."

He then talked about his expectations for the future scholarship students. He said, "They have a responsibility to become a model for other students, to keep a high grade point average till graduation and to be active in society after that. SU encourages them to study and graduate successfully."

When asked why this system starts next year, he said, "We wanted to start it sooner, but this is the earliest timing we could manage. And whenever we start this kind of new system, there are always those who entered SU the previous year and many of them may feel it is unfair, but we hope they will understand the situation. I want the students with economical problems to use the existing scholarship system, which we will continue in the future, too. We are also making plans to reward students who are working hard in their classes and extra curricular activities."

When asked if there is a possibility to increase the percentage of scholarship students in the future, he said that yes, there may be, if the number of examinees increase. But at present, they think five percent is appropriate, and that in the 2007 entrance examination, this scholarship system would be expanded to include the students from the recommendation tests and the center examinations. We went on to ask him how long he wants to continue this system. He said, "We want to continue this system as a means of training good students and sending them out into society as long as possible. In that way we will prove this universityﾕs high level of education."

His advice to future scholarship students is to find what they want to do before entering SU. He wants them to challenge various things here at SU to break out of convention and to have confidence in at least one thing, so that they will grow. He stressed that, "SU will continue this entrance scholarship system as a feature of our university, and use it as springboard for the growth of SU."

This systemﾕs great merit is that it gives a broader opportunity to study at university to those who have a zeal for studying but cannot because of economical problems. This is great benefit for them. And honor students must keep their academic level high within their faculty or department, or they will lose the scholarship. As a result, this will help to motivate and train excellent students and this system will play a big part to raise SUﾕs scholastic ability.

However, there will surely be complaints from current students of the old system. Some will argue that the reduction of the tuition to some extent is better for students than the new system of granting four years of free tuition to only five percent students. But, others will agree to this system. It is good to see the achievement level of our university rise even if it is a little, and it is a remarkable thing for those who cannot study at college to fulfill their dream. It is hoped that a majority will approve of this entrance scholarship system, and that this system will give SU a strong impetus for growth.