Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.20
Liaison Jonathan Rausseo
Submission Date March 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Ottawa
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.17 / 4.00 Pierre Lessard
Manager,
Financial Aid & Awards
"---" 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:
The University of Ottawa awards numerous bursaries to individuals that are of financial need. In addition to providing bursaries, the University of Ottawa has Financial Aid Officers that can allocate emergency funds to low-income students. The University of Ottawa also runs a Work-Study program which places students that demonstrate financial need in flexible work placements on campus. This allows students to gain valuable work experience while working at positions that are accommodating to their work schedules.

A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The Student Academic Success Service (SASS) has resources available to aid the UOttawa faculty and staff in better meeting the needs of students of various backgrounds. SASS works with professors to help them identify and better aid students which might be in need of help to deal with stress, anxiety, depression or other.

A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
The University's 'Financial Planning' webpage offers guidance and tools on a variety of topics related to university expenses. Budgeting tools, financial goal setting, tips on making the most out of textbook, food, and travelling expenses, preventing a financial crisis, and a list of campus financial services are provided.

A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
The University of Ottawa Financial Aid Bursary is awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, receive government financial aid from their province for the current academic year, contribute financially towards their studies and maintain satisfactory academic standing. The value of this bursary is decided on an individual basis, based on the student’s level of financial need and availability of funds. The University distributes other private bursaries which vary year to year. Private bursaries require a demonstration of financial need and other characteristics dependent on the stipulations set out by the donor (for example, student demonstrating financial need in the faculty of law with a specialization in environmental law).

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

A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
The Office of Campus Sustainability operates a 'Free Store' where students can pick up household items for free (run using donations from the community and by the residence move-out program); this program has been helpful in alleviating the financial burden of low-income students and families that attend the university. Bon Appétit is the campus food bank that is operated for students in conjunction with the Food Bank. The People's Republic of Delicious is a community kitchen that offers free meals to community members. The meals are prepared with donated foods from organizations surrounding the University.

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:
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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:
Garderie Bernadette Child Care Centre is a non-profit organization located on site at the University of Ottawa. The licensed child care facility offers care to children six weeks to five years in both English and in French and primarily serve students and faculty at the University of Ottawa but do welcome those without an affiliation as well. There are subsidized spaces available for students, faculty, and staff members with children.

A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
The Student Academic Success Service ran by the University of Ottawa has mentoring groups specific to Mature Students with families. This provides non-traditional students with one-on-one peer mentoring and assistance with: adjusting to university-level expectations developing key study skills and strategies; working with younger students; meeting new people; getting involved on campus / volunteering; creating a work-study-family-life balance; finding resources on campus; planning for exams; time Management; and stress Management.

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):
19

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

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):
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):
48

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):
19

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:
Quick facts about arriving students https://www.uottawa.ca/institutional-research-planning/resources/facts-figures/quick-facts

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.