| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.85 |
| Liaison | Robert St.Onge |
| Submission Date | July 11, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Okanagan College
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Anthony
Isaac Aboriginal Access and Services Coordinator Student Services |
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Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes
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A brief description of the institution’s participation in federal TRIO programs:
N/A We are a Canadian Institution
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A brief description of the institution’s policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students?:
• Student, Graduate, and Co-op Employment Centre - Provides support and information for those students seeking part-time work at Okanagan College, co-op job placements, and support for graduating students.
• Financial Aid and Awards - Provides information and assistance on sources of student aid and awards for upgrading and certificate, diploma and degree programs (in many instances specific to an underrepresented group such as women and minorities); applying for government and institutional funds; appealing government student aid decisions; financial aid planning and budgeting; and educational costs.
• Aboriginal Access & Services administers the Aboriginal Emergency Bursary Fund Program. It provides opportunities for Aboriginal student to access emergency funding that allows them to continue their studies. It is meant to compensate students for unforeseen emergencies that may prevent them from continuing their studies.
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A brief description of the institution’s programs to equip the institution's faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
• The Institute for Learning and Teaching - The ILT offers the Lunch and Learn Series that supports all topics including diversity. These workshops and presentations, open to the entire College population free of charge, provide information on enhancing support and learning for diverse students (e.g. international students, students with disabilities). The ILT also publishes a newsletter that addresses Diversity among other topics.
• Annual Connections Conference - an annual conference for employees of Okanagan College that offers workshops focused on diversity issues.
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A brief description of the institution’s programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
• Adult Basic Education - Offers tuition-free upgrading courses for adult learners. It is provincially mandated that where an institution offers ABE that it be tuition free. However, not every institution is obligated to offer ABE.
• Aboriginal Gateway to the Building Trades - Program is designed to provide Aboriginal students with both practical and theoretical experience in a wide variety of building trade sectors. Tuition for this program has been subsidized, budget permitting.
• Gateway to the Trades for Women - Program is designed to provide women with both practical and theoretical experience in a wide variety of trade sectors. Tuition for this program has been subsidized, budget permitting.
• Women in Trades - This program is designed to provide women with the opportunity to enrol in a wide variety of trade programs at Okanagan College. Tuition for these programs has been occasionally subsidized, budget permitting.
• Adult Special Education - Offers tuition-free programs for adults with special learning needs.
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A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Okanagan College administers numerous bursary and scholarships for low-income students. We administer awards that are funded by Okanagan College and those funded through donors via the Okanagan College Foundation. Broadly speaking, these awards are designated for students of various ancestries, students with specific community/organizational affiliations, students identifying financial need, students with varied educational backgrounds and achievements, students of differing genders and students exhibiting community involvement.
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A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
N/A
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A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
We provide Aboriginal Transitions Planners responsible for recruiting and facilitating the transition of Aboriginal students into Okanagan College programs.
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A brief description of the institution’s other admissions policies and programs:
We have developed an Aboriginal Student Admissions Policy. This Policy was developed to promote equitable representation by Aboriginal learners in all of our programs. The College, in collaboration with departments, will annually set aside a predetermined number of places specifically for Aboriginal students (a few conditions apply)
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A brief description of the institution’s other financial aid polices or programs:
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A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs not covered above:
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The website URL where information about programs in each of the areas listed above is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.