Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.69
Liaison Rochelle Owen
Submission Date April 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Dalhousie University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.31 / 4.00 Beth Cann
Executive Director of Enrolment Services and Deputy Registrar (Acting)
Registrar
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

Yes, Dalhousie provides bursaries and awards that are provided based on financial need. https://www.dal.ca/admissions/money_matters/funding_sources/bursaries.html


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

No specific programs at this time


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

Online tools and modules are provided through the Money Matters website that provide guidance on financing options. Budgeting and financing sessions are provided as part of summer orientation activities and graduate sessions. https://www.dal.ca/admissions/money_matters/budgeting_your_money.htmll


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

Dalhousie University's Bursary program provides funds to assist students in financial need. Bursaries are typically smaller amounts of money, intended to supplement other funding sources.

Different types of awards are also available for students. See more below:
http://www.dal.ca/admissions/money_matters/funding_sources/scholarships.html


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

The University offers Money Matter and Pathways information sessions highlighting programs such funding programs, financial aid, and financial literacy; University fairs and visits all have a financial literacy and funding programs. Some fairs and events are targeted to reach communities that are lower income than national median.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

External scholarships and bursaries
Many external scholarships and bursaries are offered to university students on behalf of outside organizations.

http://www.dal.ca/admissions/money_matters/funding_sources/external_scholarshipsbursaries.html


Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

No real focus on part-time students


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:

Dalhousie has negotiated space for the University Children’s Centre (UCC) which has two locations on campus. The UCC is an independent non-profit separate from the University. http://ucc.dal.ca/index.php/about/ No subsidies are provided.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

No specific policies. There are a flexibility of on-line, day and night classes that accommodates different student schedules.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
Yes

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
26

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
55

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):
0

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):
0

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):
5

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:

Dalhousie University does not track or collect records of students who are low-income. However, for part 2 of this credit, the percentage of first year students who received some form of government loan for schooling purposes was used. The graduation rate % is based on this first year cohort sample - based on a six year time frame.

In Canada, Universities wouldn't have data on who applied for student loans or if they received bank loans, thus we can't fill out the last two questions in Part Two.


Dalhousie University does not track or collect records of students who are low-income. However, for part 2 of this credit, the percentage of first year students who received some form of government loan for schooling purposes was used. The graduation rate % is based on this first year cohort sample - based on a six year time frame.

In Canada, Universities wouldn't have data on who applied for student loans or if they received bank loans, thus we can't fill out the last two questions in Part Two.

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.