| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.42 |
| Liaison | Mary-Lee Townsend |
| Submission Date | Oct. 6, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western University
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 4.00 |
Stefanie
De Adder Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
Does the institution have policies and programs in place 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 Government of Ontario, in partnership with the province's colleges and universities, delivers the Student Access Guarantee. The Student Access Guarantee’s goal is that no qualified Ontario student should be prevented from attending our public colleges and universities because of a lack of financial support. Through this guarantee, Western will provide enough financial aid to cover students’ assessed needs for tuition, books and mandatory fees if these are not fully met by OSAP. Students are automatically considered for a Student Access Guarantee aid based on OSAP application.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
There are various summer not-for-profit programs offered through the Faculty of Engineering for elementary to high school students. The programs are staffed by students which strives to increase the awareness of, and cultivate interest in engineering and technology in young people in London, Ontario and the surrounding communities. As well, there are programs offered only to girls to break down gender-biased engineering stereotypes and develop female interest in engineering.
Bursaries are available in all programs for parents that would otherwise be unable to send their children to camp.
The programs are:
1. Discovery Western - elementary students
2. Western Engineering Summer Academy - high school students
3. Girls' Club - Grades 5 to 9
4. Girls Recognizing Engineering and Technology - Grades 4 to 9
http://www.eng.uwo.ca/DW/default.htm
Additionally, 'Bit by Bit Computer Camp' is offered in the summer through the Computer Science Department to encourage and promote awareness of technology and computer science aimed at children ages 10 to 15.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Western's Need-Based Awards are given to students based on a combination of academic merit, demonstration of financial need, and in some cases, non-academic requirements.
http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/scholarships_awards/index.html
A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Western and the University Students' Council (USC) recognize that students often decide their future educational pathways at an early age, and have committed to successfully organize the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' (CYOA) Conference, in order to help facilitate access to resources and information about post-secondary education.
The CYOA Conference has been established throughout the London community over the past seven years, and during that time, has invited many Grade 8 students to attend this informative leadership conference. CYOA is a dynamic weekend aimed to empower low income, at-risk youth in London to pursue post-secondary education after graduation. The conference provides the youth delegates with the support and encouragement to pursue their dreams and chart their own futures through activities such as mock lectures from Western University professors, inspirational speakers from the London community, budget management presentations to students and parents, a volunteer fair, and a “My Action Plan” session for youth delegates to create individual paths to success. Additionally, delegates are mentored by university student volunteers who are Leadership Developers for the conference.
This year the conference hosted 130+ delegates from 9 different London schools with 50+ Leadership Developers from Western University.
For more information see: http://westernusc.ca/blog/2013/05/10/university-students-council-hosts-choose-your-own-adventure-early-outreach-conference/
A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
The Senior Citizen Bursary is available to senior citizens who are registered at main campus, and is awarded on the basis of financial need. The value of the bursary shall cover up to the cost of tuition or the maximum of $6000 per term (fall/winter) for non-grad students and $3277 per term for graduate students.
A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:
The First Generation Bursary provides direct support to students with financial need who are the first in their families to attend a post-secondary institution. The Bursary ranges from $1000-3500 dollars, and students with the highest financial need will be selected from the eligible submissions through the Financial Application Profile.
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
Department specific bursaries are available to part-time students from all departments. Western also offers the UWO Part-time scholarships to students who are registered in 1.0 courses on a part-time basis and are pursuing their first degree at Western.
Other annually awarded scholarships/bursaries include:
Angela Armitt Medals
Deborah Murphy Memorial Bursary
M.E. (Peggy) Collins Memorial Undergraduate Award
Special Institutional Bursary
Thomas N. Guinsburg Bursary
A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
There are currently 3 child care centres at Western: University Childcare, UCC Flexible Childcare, and University Laboratory Preschool. The UCC Flexible Childcare Centre is operated on -campus by the YMCA of Western Ontario. They offer an hourly rate of $7.10 with special rates for the families of undergraduate students of Western University and for multi-sibling families.
A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
| Percentage (0-100) | |
| The percentage of entering students that are low-income | --- |
| The graduation/success rate for low-income students | --- |
| The percentage of student financial need met, on average | --- |
| The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt | --- |
The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
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.