Contributed by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (via Email to Student Government Presidents)
Questions & Answers Regarding Tuition Refunds and the Work-Stoppage-Related "Hardship Fund"
1. What are the prerequisites to receive full tuition refunds (differences between dropping out of a semester, dropping out of a year, or dropping out of college entirely)? Why?
A: The tuition refund policy applies to both full-time and part-time college students, regardless of the source of their tuition funding, who are unable to complete their program as a result of the strike.
Students applying for a tuition fee refund must make the application to their college in writing, notifying the college of their intention to withdraw and the reasons why they are unable to complete the program or continuing education course which must be strike related. This request must be submitted no later than two weeks after the end of the strike.
It is our hope that as many students as possible will remain enrolled in their programs and complete their credentials. As such, partial tuition fee refunds will not be granted.
2. In the spirit of transparency, will a report back on how the funding was allocated be made public? What will happen to unused funds? Will institutions keep them?
A: Yes, colleges will report publicly on the amount of support provided through the fund. If savings identified exceed student claims, the surplus funding will be used by the colleges to support student learning by providing additional learning supports such as additional tutoring or library hours.
3. What is the process for applying to withdraw/for the support fund? Is this institution by institution? Through the OSAP portal? Registrar's Office?
A: The hardship fund will be administered by each college. College financial aid offices have existing processes in place to support the receipt and assessment of applications and payments to students. Students will apply for aid and will need to provide evidence to demonstrate costs have been or will be incurred. Students will be able to submit applications until the end of the winter term.
Students applying for a tuition fee refund must make the application to their college in writing, notifying the college of their intention to withdraw and the reasons why they are unable to complete the program or continuing education course which must be strike related. This request must be submitted no later than two weeks after the end of the strike.
4. Will all students who apply and are approved receive something from the support fund? Or is it a first come, first served basis?
A: All full-time domestic and international students who remain enrolled in their studies will be eligible for the student support fund. A key principle of this fund is that no student will be turned away because of insufficient funds.
5. If students withdraw & receive tuition refund, are they still eligible for the support fund?
A: Students who withdraw will receive a tuition refund and will not be eligible for any additional support through the fund.
6. Are ancillary fees covered by the tuition fee refund? Why or why not?
A: Students withdrawing from programs or continuing education courses which were affected by the academic strike can apply for a full tuition fee refund of the 2017 fall semester, and any tuition and ancillary fees paid for the next or subsequent semesters. As well, no administration fee can be withheld.
7. Is there support for loss of wages? For example, students who would have been finished in early December and would have been able to start their career but will now be losing approximately a month’s wages as they will not be finished mid-January.
A: All full-time domestic and international students who remain enrolled in their studies will be eligible for the student support fund. Eligible expenses are those that are incremental due to strike related reasons and that represent the reasonable-cost solution to the problem. Examples of eligible costs could include incremental travel costs, incremental child care expenses, or incremental living expenses such as the cost to extend rent for a month to accommodate the fall term extending into January or the cost to purchase a transit pass for an additional month.
8. Will board exam dates be pushed back as well for students such as nurses, paramedics, dental hygienist, etc. who may only have a week to study and prep instead of a full month or longer?
A: Certification examinations are administered by their respective professional bodies. I encourage students to contact the associations administering the examinations for further information.
