The University of British Columbia
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

As a Canadian public univeristy, we participate in the Federal Direct Loan program but do not participate in the United States' Federal TRIO programs.

Each year the university holds a tuition consultation process. Through this process, the University will inform and engage the campus and broader communities in an open and transparent dialogue as well as initiate a public consultation program as a means of obtaining feedback about the University's annual tuition proposal. The consultation ensures broad notification to students about the tuition proposal and the consultation process and provides opportunities for students to become informed about the draft tuition proposal and to provide feedback. There are also subsidized bus passes and financial hardship subsidies available to offset the cost of student fees.

Staff at Student Financial Assistance and Awards conduct outreach presentations and liaise with staff and faculty in various departments to ensure that their students are aware of the resources available to them and that they are directed to our offices for information about student loans, bursaries and financial planning.

We offer outreach presentations regarding financial literacy to targeted groups on and off campus. We also target high school students and counselors in our outreach efforts in the hopes that we will reach groups that may not have considered higher education for financial reasons. UBC's Student Financial Assistance and Awards office also offers individualized financial planning and advising sessions to all students upon request.

UBC Entrance Awards assist students in their transition from secondary school to university. The purpose of this program is to financially support academically qualified students who show an interest in joining the UBC community, but who would not otherwise be able to attend without significant financial assistance. In addition, there are a number of donor supported awards that are directed towards students with evidence of financial need. This program offers entering students one-time awards and renewable awards of up to $40,000 payable over four years.

Student financial advisors often accompany recruiters on their trips in Canada to provide information to prospective students about UBC programs and services that are based on students' financial need, as well as about other financial supports such as scholarships.

Other financial aid policies and programs include: STUDENT LOAN ADMINSTRATION ASSISTANCE UBC's Student Financial Assistance and Awards office assists in the administration of each province's student loan program, as well as the United States' Direct Loan program. GENERAL BURSARY PROGRAM UBC’s General Bursary program is designed to help fill students' "unmet need," which is the gap between the assessed cost of attendance and available government assistance. WORK STUDY Work Study is an employment program that helps fund on-campus jobs for students. A Work Study position will help offset the costs of education. WORK LEARN Work Learn is an employment program that helps international students gain experience in a UBC workplace.

THE INTERNATIONAL LEADER OF TOMORROW AWARD (ILOT) The International Leader of Tomorrow Award (ILOT) recognizes international students who demonstrate superior academic achievement, leadership skills, involvement in student affairs and community service, recognized achievement in fields of endeavour such as the performing arts, sports, or external academic competitions and examinations. Awards are by nomination of the nominees’ current school or college/university. ILOT Award winners receive an award-level commensurate with their financial need as determined by the costs of their tuition, fees and living costs, minus the financial contribution the student and their family can make annually towards these costs. A standard needs-assessment is made based on financial information provided by students and their families. THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (ISHA) The International Student Humanitarian Award (ISHA) recognizes students entering UBC directly from secondary school who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in circumstances requiring noteworthy perseverance, such as in war-torn or impoverished regions of the world.

The University of British Columbia's Policy on Access (Policy 72) covers accessibility and ensures that No Eligible Student (as defined by Policy #72) will be prevented from commencing or continuing his or her studies at the University for financial reasons alone. Eligible Students and their families have the primary responsibility for bearing the individual cost of higher education. If an Eligible Student and his or her family exhaust the financial sources available to them, the University will ensure that financial support will be made available to them. The UBC Bursary program is the primary program through which Policy 72 is enabled, however there are also Work Study programs and Entrance Awards which are based on students' financial need. In order to be considered Eligible for Bursary, students must be Canadian Citizens, or Permanent Residents. Please refer to Policy 72 at http://www.universitycounsel.ubc.ca/files/2010/08/policy72.pdf.