President John Peters had a few end-of-the-year loose threads to tie up at the University Council meeting Wednesday, starting with a wrap-up of the provost search.

Peters said it has been a “rigorous past two and a half days” and the evaluations from those who interacted with the three provost candidates on campus are being submitted to help make the decision.

“We’ve had three outstanding people come to campus,” Peters said. “The evaluation period will last for several days. Now we move on to the more difficult part, which is judgement.”

Peters also reported an increase in the monetary award program, raising the base figures to $34.4 million. The base budget has increased 1.23 percent, a development Peters described as “welcome news.”

He also said talks to limit tax credit to families with students maintaining a “B” average have also come to fruition. Another $34.4 million will be going into the monetary award program to benefit sophomores, juniors and seniors in good academic standing. Of these students, households with a family income of less than $200,000 are eligible. Peters, however, said the supply for this financial aid is not endless.

“It will be on a first-come, first-serve basis,” he said. “When the money runs out, the money runs out.”

After updating the council on the status of the provost search, Peters said 2,600 individuals will be getting their diplomas come commencement.

“People who thought they were attending the OAR concert get to come to commencement,” Peters said.

Audience attendance is expected to reach 24,000.