| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.90 |
| Liaison | Matt Wolsfeld |
| Submission Date | Jan. 23, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Saskatchewan
PA-7: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 4.00 |
Margret
Asmuss Sustainability coordinator The office of sustainability |
Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
The university’s students have access to federal and provincial student aid programs, which include grants for students from low-income families. These loan and grant programs are needs-based. Students with permanent disabilities are eligible for additional financial assistance for education-related costs.
Many scholarships and bursaries are available to U of S students, some of which consider financial need.
A variety of employment opportunities exist for students on campus, including positions as research assistants and teaching assistants.
Aboriginal students have access to scholarships, bursaries, awards, emergency loans and band funding through the Aboriginal Students’ Centre.
As a publicly funded institution the university’s tuition rates are affordable taking into account the sources of assistance mentioned above.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
Our faculty, administrative, advising and counseling staff who frequently see students who demonstrate financial need are informed by regular communication of the existence of bursaries, on-campus work opportunities and emergency loans for students in distress.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Our recruitment, admissions and awards staff provide workshops to high school students on applying for admission to university, the cost of attendance, options for financing including government student loans, and applying for student awards. The university's website also provides budget planning and other "money matters" information.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
The University of Saskatchewan offers a wide variety of institution-funded and donor-funded awards to students with financial need in all program years. These awards are offered both at the university-wide and the college or program level.
https://students.usask.ca/money/awards/undergraduate-awards.php#myScholarships
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Recruitment staff travel to First Nations communities in remote areas of the province to provide Aboriginal students with specific and culturally sensitive information. Aboriginal students are among those with the lowest family incomes. Recruiters also visit high schools that serve students from a wide variety of income levels.
The University of Saskatchewan Community Outreach and Engagement Office at Station 20 West focuses on enhancing and building community-university relationships in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods with the goal of building/supporting social, educational, economic and health equity through research and experiential learning, while also acting as the doorway for the core neighborhoods to the university. This involves receiving and refereeing inquiries from prospective students.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
In 2015 the university launched a new, comprehensive fund to support youth who were in the care of the child-welfare system. Chosen students will receive up to five years of tuition, student fees, required books, accommodation, meal plans and a stipend for personal costs, as well as a laptop and software.
Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
Many U of S scholarships, awards and bursaries are accessible to both full-time and part-time students. These can be accessed through:
http://students.usask.ca/money/scholarships.php?award=301667CB01
A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
There are currently three daycares on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
Campus Daycare provides daycare for children of campus students, staff and faculty. It has spaces for 45 children. The daycare incorporates some teaching into the program, offering music, swimming lessons, campus outings, and skating during the winter. The operation is managed by a parent–run board.
The USSU (Students' Union) Childcare Centre operates independently as an affiliated organization with a separate Board of Directors. It is government subsidized and licensed for 66 children aged six months to six years and exists primarily to serve the needs of undergraduate students.
The Child Care Facility provides 90 spaces, 75 percent of which are reserved for students. It is government licensed and subsidized.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Special (Mature) Admission is available to applicants who do not qualify for Regular Admission. All direct-entry colleges except the College of Education consider applicants under Special (Mature) Admission.
The University Learning Centre provides help and advice to mature students.
http://www.usask.ca/ulc/newstudent/mature
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students (0-100):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.