Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.01
Liaison Jen Crothers
Submission Date Aug. 4, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of British Columbia
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.46 / 4.00 Allison See
Director of Finance
Enrolment Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs in place 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:

The University provides needs-based financial support to enable students to commence or continue their students at the University. If an eligible student and their family have exhausted the financial resources available to them, the University will ensure that financial support will be made available to them as part of the University Bursary Program. For students in eligible programs, bursaries cover the portion of an eligible student’s assessed financial need that is not met by government student loans and grants, scholarships, and/or external bursaries. Access to the University is covered by Policy 72: http://universitycounsel.ubc.ca/files/2011/10/policy72.pdf

In partnership with the World University Service of Canada, the University participates in the WUSC Student Refugee Program. The program enables student refugees to come to the University to continue their studies. Through an agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, these students are eligible to resettle here in Canada as landed agreements. The University provides bursary funds sufficient to cover the cost of the student’s tuition, student fees, and book costs. First year students receive a living allowance to cover housing and meals.

There are also subsidized bus passes and financial hardship subsidies available to offset the cost of student fees.


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

Enrolment Service Professionals (ESPs) are a specialized advising service for all UBC students. ESPs provide students with professional advice and support across all areas of UBC Enrolment Services, including financial planning and available student financial support.

ESPs are a first point of contact for students and help with anything from paying tuition or making a budget to requesting a transcript or changing a program. They help students navigate University policies and processes and offer support and advocacy to students in need.


A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

Enrolment Services Professionals (ESPs) offer outreach presentations regarding financial literacy to targeted groups on and off campus. They also work closely with high school counsellors in order to effectively reach students who may not have considered higher education for financial reasons. Through recruitment events, ESPs advise high school students directly and highlight the financial realities of post-secondary education and the many resources available. Once at the University, all students will have access to personalized financial advising from their own ESP, who is available to help them access resources and support on and off campus.


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

The University Entrance Award program was established to financially support academically qualified students who show an interest in joining the UBC community, but who would not otherwise be able to do so without significant financial assistance. One-time awards and renewable awards of up to $40,000 are available to enable this opportunity. Once on campus, students have access to the specialized support of their ESPs in order to help them through the transition from secondary school to university.

There are also many additional awards available to continuing students that have been established to specifically support students with financial need.


A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:

Information on loans, assistance, and work programs is available online at: http://you.ubc.ca/tuition-scholarships/loans-assistance/?pageID=1109.


A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

Enrolment Services Professionals and Student Recruiter-Advisors provide information across Canada to prospective students regarding University programs and services, including specific information regarding financial need-based support and academic scholarships.


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

Information on loans, assistance, and work programs is available online at: http://you.ubc.ca/tuition-scholarships/loans-assistance/?pageID=1109.


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

Other financial aid policies and programs include:

STUDENT LOAN ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANCE
The University’s Enrolment Services office assists in the administration of each province's student loan program, as well as the United States' Direct Loan program, and provides direct support to students regarding student loan eligibility and application. In addition, the University is represented and sits on the National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance (NAGSFA), as well as the BC StudentAid Policy Working Group (BCSAPWG) to review/develop and discuss federal and provincial Canadian student loan policies with the aim to remove financial barriers for low and middle-income students and their families, while focusing on student welfare.

GENERAL BURSARY PROGRAM
The University’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, with non-repayable financial support.

EMERGENCY BURSARIES
The University offers emergency bursaries to those students who find themselves in an emergency situation or faced with an unexpected expense.

UNIVERSITY LOANS AND ADVANCES
Under certain circumstances, advances may be available to students who require immediate funding but whose student loans have not yet been released to them. In addition, it may be possible to receive a university loan for those students in financial need. University loans require a guarantor (co-signer).

AFFILIATION BURSARIES
Non-repayable bursaries are available to students who demonstrate financial need and have a connection to a specific club, company, or geographical region.

WORK LEARN
The Work Learn Program supports and subsidizes meaningful work experiences on campus that offer the opportunity for all current University students to develop professional skills and learn in a work environment. From these experiences, students gain mentorship opportunities, an expanded network, ownership and responsibility of work, self-awareness and reflection, the chance to apply knowledge in practical settings, and to contribute to personal learning goals and to the University in a different way.


A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:

YOUTH IN CARE TUITION WAIVER
The full cost of tuition for a first undergraduate degree is waived for eligible students who were formerly youth in care of the B.C. Ministry. The purpose of this waiver is to reduce the financial cost of post-secondary education for youth aging out of care who might not otherwise be able to attend university.


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

A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN IN PART-TIME STUDY
Academic awards for women enrolled in less than 80% of a full-time course load.


A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

CHILD CARE SERVICES
Child Care Services operates licensed group care for children, infant to school age, as well as a preschool program and independent kindergarten. Their mission is to provide exemplary child care services to families accessing the University. All programs are located on the Point Grey Campus. Child Care Services is an ancillary operation within the department of Student Housing and Hospitality Services at the University. The University subsidizes the operation of the service approximately $1,500.00 per child per annum.


A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

The University’s ESPs provide financial advice to students on provincial and/or federal government programs that support students facing financial hardships such as: the Learning Disability Assessment Bursary (LDAB) and the First Citizens Fund Student Bursary for non-sponsored Aboriginal students.

The University’s Access & Diversity unit provides a wide range of services and support for students with physical and/or learning disabilities, including mobility assistance, interpreting, captioning, and facilitating accommodations needed by students. Awards are also available for students with disability.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Yes

Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
Percentage (0-100)
The percentage of entering students that are low-income 11
The graduation/success rate for low-income students 89
The percentage of student financial need met, on average 72
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt 74

The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
33

The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

33% of Low Income Grant recipients received a bursary from the University as part of the General Bursary Program.


33% of Low Income Grant recipients received a bursary from the University as part of the General Bursary Program.

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.