by Laurie Murphy
Welcome back! I truly hope everyone managed to have ter-
On your behalf, the UPEI Student Union presented a de- tailed analysis of P.E.I.’s Stu- dent Loan and Bursary Student Aid Program and proposals for changes in the current system. What follows is a summary of rec- ommendations given to the Mar- itime Provinces Higher: Educa- tion Commission (MPHEC) on June 21, 1988.
Presenters: Lisa Murphy: UPEISU VPAcademic
Dave Campbell: PEI/NB Fieldworker
Eligibility requirements
CFS
Group A and Group B classi- fication
Recommendation:
When a parent does not com- plete and sign the application form where indicated, the indi- vidual applying for assistance be classified as independent under Group B status and eligible for bursary.
Definition of word “sponsor”
Recommendation:
The word “sponsor” be de- fined and clarified in the Canada Student Loan and Prince Edward Island Bursary Programs Infor- mation Brochure.
Modified Group B status
Recommendation:
Omit “and do not have two years on the work force”
Abolishment of Group B status
Modified
Recommendation:
The modified Group B sta- tus be eliminated. If the appli- cant meets the criteria for Group B classification, should not have to provide documentation of par- ent’s income or complete sections 15-19 on application form.
Adequacy of various costs and allowances
The Search for the Green
rific summers with exciting work- places. My job was certainly fun this year working with Sherri Egan giving campus tours to in- coming first year students. I’d like to say hello to those students now and to wish them a great year of university life.
An important part of univer- sity life is of course finances and the Student Services Center pro- vides assistance to students in the areas of scholarships, bursaries, and loans by providing avenues of information. I have had one year as your Financial Aid Ad- visor and in that period of time have noticed several specific areas of concern:
A. There are bursaries and scholarships available to UPEI students on the basis of a combi- nation of various things like need, academic performance, commu- nity involvement, religious affili- ation, gender, and field of study that simple require application
from students;
B. The Federal/Provincial Loan and Bursary Programs for Canadian students are not nec- essarily simple or easy to under- stand if applying for the first time and advisement is recommended;
C. Appeal your temporary as- sessment of your loan application if you are not happy with it;
D. University is in itself a full-
time job; therefore, please try to keep any part-time job down to 10 hours a week if you can; and
E. UPEI students who are studying toward a bachelor’s de- gree or diploma are categorized as undergraduate students. Gradu-
' ate students are those who go on
to a Masters or Doctorate level of study in a particular field. If stu- dents are accepted into a gradu- ate program, then they can usu- ally receive funds in the form of teaching assistants, scholarships, or bursaries. Student loans are also available through the De- partment of Education Student Aid Program.
OK, I think that’s enough of
For Your Information:
Book and instrument costs Maximum Allowance
Recommendation:
The maximum allowance for books and instrument costs be
extended to a minimum of
$700.00. This figure should be included in the Prince Edward Island Student Aid Information Brochure.
Exceptional expense consider- ation
Recommendation:
The Student Aid Information Brochure contain information on procedure for exceptional (excess of $400.00) book and instrument expenses.
Cost breakdown
Recommendation:
A breakdown of book and in- strument costs be made accord-
ing to course of study. These al- |
lowances would be adjusted an- nually with a built-in escalator based. on the inflation rate for text. books (this rate is several times the Consumer Price Index).
Board and lodging cost al- lowance
Parental residence classifica- tion
Recommendation:
That the Student Information Brochure read as follows:
If you are a Group A stu- dent who pays rent while living at home you may claim $45.00no. of weeks. ;
- Christmas break/travel costs Recommendation:
To adopt the Nova Scotia pol-
icy of allowing for two return -
trips or inclusion of relevant costs for students to live on during the Christmas break.
Local transportation cost al-
lowance Inadequacy of allowance Recommendation:
The cost allowance for local transportation be increased sig- nificantly when the student is at- tending a post-secondary institu- tion that does not have a public transit system.
Other costs allowed Typing of term papers Recommendation:
The typing of term papers al- lowance be increased and remain flexible for additional costs a stu- dent may experience in a partic- ular course of study.
Photocopy expense Recommendation:
An amount be allowed for photocopying expenses. The amount may be determined by an average cost formula based on revenue generated divided by number of student users in a pe- riod of time.
Day care expense Recommendation:
That actual day care costs be determined yearly and accounted for in the Student Aid Brochure.
With this information supplied in |
the Brochure the student has the opportunity to seek quality day care service and have an assur- ance that these expenses will be covered through the Student Aid program.
Medical and dental expenses for single students Recommendation:
An amount of $200.00 be in- cluded for medical and dental ex- penses for single students in the Costs formula.
Basic maintenance allowance
- Recommendation:
That the Basic Maintenance Allowance for married students and single parents be increased yearly to reflect real expenses and the cost of living increase. An es- calator using the Consumer Price Index could be used to adjust this allowance annually.
Costs
Brochure form
and application
Recommendation:
All educational costs that are considered by Student Aid office be listed in the Student Aid In- formation Brochure and clearly outlined on the application form. The form should provide the words “Total education costs and a blank space for the student to enter the total amount figure.
Increase in educational costs Recommendation:
The amount of aid, Canada Student Loan and Prince Edward Island’s provincial bursary, be in- creased to accomodate cost in- creases in educational expenses. The cost of living allowance should be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.
Parental contribution require- ments
Recommendation:
The Student Aid Program principles and classification of ap- plicants criteria include flexibil- ity for the student whose parents will not follow through with fam- ily contribution, or for the stu- dent who wishes to actively seek independence from her parents.
Procedure to determine stu- dent resources
Work term employment con- tribution ;
Recommendation:
The procedure to determine a student’s contribution from her summer employment work term
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SS
the world of financial aid for this first issue of the GEM. Speak ing of the GEM, I would like to welcome our two new co-editor Dawnne Chappelle and Cora-Leq Desroches to the newspaper staff] They replace our past editor Der tick Webber who did an out- standing job last year and all in dications point to our new editors of being equally successful. Oh yes, before finishing this first ar- ticle I should tell you that I’ve changed my name back to Mur; phy from Reeves and I hope that it doesn’t cause and confusion.
Until next week, remembe that the search for the green be; gins with you! ,
should be one based on approxi mation of income for original as sessment. Changes in student’g income and increased and de creases would appear under the usual earnings verification pro, cess. Monies would then be ad; justed accordingly. Awards as resources Recommendations: Scholarships and merit awards, less an exemptio of minimum $1,000,00 on the to- tal value. riprboy dor t8n9Y 1. Awards based bit ‘need be ex: empt from the Resources formula!
Assistance required by part- time students
Information of program avail-
able : Recommendation:
Canada Student Loans Pro- gram for Part-Time Study be in- cluded in the Canada Student Loan and Prince Edward Island Bursary Programs Information Brochure. Information supplied must include all costs allowed and repayment procedures.
Terms of loan and repayment
Recommendation: ©
The loan ceiling for part-time student loans be increased with repayment starting 6 months af- ter the borrower ceases to attend a post-secondary institution.
-A toll free Island wide infor-
mation line be established to field information and requests
Recommendation:
The federal and provincial governments responsible for edu- cation jointly sponsor student aid workshops, to be help in the three counties, annually.
Information
For further information, con- tact Lisa Murphy - Vice Pres- ident Academic, UPEI Student Union 566-0684.
Thursday, September 8, 1988 ==