Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.26
Liaison Sharmilla Raj
Submission Date Dec. 9, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Toronto Metropolitan University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

Support for Low-Income Students

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

None
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
Student Access Guarantee (SAG): a partnership program between the ministry and Ontario's public colleges and universities. Through SAG, Ontario's publicly assisted colleges and universities are required to ensure that financial need is not a barrier to accessing education. In accordance with the Province’s SAG program, Ryerson ensures that Ontario students in need have access to the resources they need for their tuition, books and mandatory fees that are not covered by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), a non-repayable bursary to assist with your educational costs. Ryerson Emergency Bursary: The Ryerson Emergency Bursary is intended to provide students with financial assistance as a result of sudden or unexpected circumstances/emergencies for which they could not have planned. It is not meant to address funding shortfalls where government financial aid (e.g. OSAP, U.S. student loans, or out-of-province funding), savings, or employment income is insufficient to cover educational expenses.

None
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 the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Ryerson has created several supports for first generation students. Our First Generation Project PACE connects potential students with mentors and helps young people explore their future academic and career options. To help ensure their university success, we provide first generation students with networking events, volunteer opportunities, and financial aid. See more information here: https://www.ryerson.ca/giving/where-to-give/PACE/pace2018-firstgen/

None
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Ryerson offers over 1300 awards, scholarships and bursaries via the AwardsSpring program many of which cater to students who demonstrate financial need. They require a single application which automatically enters applicants for as many scholarships as they are eligible, some requiring additional submissions. Some examples of relevant scholarships include: Wayne and Isabel Fox Bursary Overview: Officially enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program; minimum CGPA of 2.00; clear academic standing; demonstration of financial need; Canadian citizen/permanent resident; Ontario resident; enrolled in any program; any year. Qualifications: Applicant must be a resident of Ontario. Applicant must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person. Applicant must be an undergraduate student. Applicant must be enrolled full-time. Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 2.1 or higher. Applicant must demonstrate financial need. W.H Bouck and J.D Hague Memorial Awards Overview: To be eligible a student must be a officially enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program, enrolled in 4 units or higher per term, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, be an Ontario resident, achieved a minimum CGPA of 2.00, achieved a clear academic standing, and demonstrate financial need. Must submit a personal letter outlining their volunteer work and/or community involvement. Award cannot be held concurrently with other Ryerson awards, scholarships, bursaries whose total annual value exceeds $2500. Qualifications: Applicant must have clear academic standing. Applicant must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person. Applicant must be a resident of Ontario. Applicant must be an undergraduate student. Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Applicant must be enrolled full-time. Applicant must demonstrate financial need. Meloche Monnex Award Qualifications: Applicant must have clear academic standing. Applicant must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person. Applicant must be a resident of Ontario. Applicant must be an undergraduate student. Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Applicant must be enrolled full-time. Applicant must demonstrate financial need.

A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Ryerson has created several supports for first generation students. Our First Generation Project connects potential students with mentors and helps young people explore their future academic and career options. To help ensure their university success, we provide first generation students with networking events, volunteer opportunities, and financial aid.

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

Support for Non-Traditional Students 

Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
Ryerson provides financial assistance to part time students through the AwardsSpring program, which offers over 1300 awards, scholarships and bursaries. This process requires a single application which automatically enters applicants for as many scholarships as they are eligible, some requiring additional submissions.

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:
By emphasizing holistic care and support, the Gerrard Resource Centre helps children and their parents thrive. The Gerrard Resource Centre (GRC) is an on-campus child care service and outreach program supported by Toronto Children's Services and the School of Early Childhood Studies at Ryerson University. The GRC has a special focus on the inclusion of children with disabilities and enhancing family supports. The only Canadian university-based family support program centre operated according to The Guiding Principles of Family Support, the GRC provides leadership in the provision of direct service to families and children and resources for parents and caregivers, professionals, researchers and policymakers, and students.

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

Part 2 

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

Optional Fields 

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:
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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.