ATHABASCA TRIBAL COUNCIL UPGRADING AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FUNDING POLICY Revised: April 1, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Definitions .............................................................................................................................................. 3 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5 3. Eligibility ................................................................................................................................................. 5 4. Application .............................................................................................................................................. 9 5. Types of Students ................................................................................................................................. 10 6. Full Time Student Supports .................................................................................................................. 11 7. Part Time Student Supports ................................................................................................................. 13 8. Consequences of Withdrawal............................................................................................................... 13 9. Funding Suspension .............................................................................................................................. 14 10. Frauds ................................................................................................................................................... 14 11. Appeal Process ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Appendix A: Schedule of Monthly Living Allowance for Full Time Students ...................................... 16 Appendix B: Travel Allowance Subsidies ............................................................................................. 17 Appendix C: Application Forms ........................................................................................................... 18 1 | Page Congratulations on your decision to pursue a post-secondary education! In order to increase your opportunity to receive funding support please read and understand all sections of this policy. If you are not sure of any of the material in this policy, please contact the Education Coordinator. 2 | Page DEFINITIONS 1. Academic Year . Refers to two semesters with an approximate duration of eight (8) months 2. Academic Penalty . Is a penalty of one or two years without ATC sponsorship and the payback of tuition & fees and book fees. 3. Band Member . A person whose name has been entered on the Indigenous Services Canada Indian Registry List as a member of an Athabasca Tribal Council affiliated First Nation. 4. Compassionate Reasons . Reasons pertaining to the death, incapacitating illness or serious accident of an immediate family member and approved at the discretion of the Education Coordinator. Further detail is available in section 8.e. 5. Common Law Spouse . A person who has lived with the student as spouse for a period of at least six (6) months prior to application for educational support 6. Dependent . Means a person who is dependent upon the student as defined by Revenue Canada. A dependent is living with the student on a full-time basis, is under the age of 18 or is in full time attendance at primary or secondary school or is disabled. 7. Fraud . Any act, expression, omission, or concealment calculated to deceive the Athabasca Tribal Council to its disadvantage and carried out for the purpose of achieving personal gain 8. Full-Time Student . Identified by a recognized post-secondary institution to as a full-time student, stated in the Acceptance Letter. Normally 3-course load is deemed full-time. 9. Medical Reasons . Refers to a serious illness or injury in which the student will be absent from classes for more than one week. The student is required to provide the Education Coordinator with a note or certificate from the doctor or medical institution that provides details of the illness or reason for absence from classes. Failure to do so may result in the student being required to reimburse the Athabasca Tribal Council for tuition & fees and book fees 3 | Page that have been provided to the student in the semester during which the absence took place. 10. Part-Time Student . identified by a recognized post-secondary institution as a part-time student as having 1 or 2-course load. 11. Post-Secondary Institution . Means a degree, diploma and certificate granting institution which is recognized by a province and include educational institutions affiliated with, or delivering, accredited post-secondary programs by arrangement with a post-secondary institution that offers diploma and degree programs 12. Post-Secondary Education . A program of studies, offered by a post-secondary institution, for which completion of secondary school studies or its equivalent is a pre-requisite 13. Program of Studies . Includes all post-secondary programs, at least one academic year in duration, leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree. Programs (e.g. Pre-Law) less than one academic year which are pre-requisites to post-secondary programs of at least one academic year in duration are included. 14. PSSSP . An acronym for Post-Secondary School Support Program 15. Treaty/Status Indian . Means a person whose name has been entered in the Indian Register maintained by the Department as defined by the Indian Act 16. Semester . Refers to a part of the academic year, as defined by the post-secondary institution. The duration is usually four months. 17. Sponsorship . The provision of financial support for a member to attend a post-secondary institution. This support may include tuition, books, living allowance and travel allowance, where applicable. 18. UCEP . An acronym for University and College Entrance Preparation. 4 | Page 1. INTRODUCTION The objective of the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) is to provide financial support enable affiliated First Nation members to Treaty/Status students to gain access to post- secondary education and to graduate with the skills and competencies needed to pursue individual careers and to contribute to the advancement of First Nations self-governance and economic self-reliance. The Athabasca Tribal Council has adopted this policy and mandate the Education Director and Coordinator to follow the guidelines and procedures as written to ensure fair and objective decisions for all students. This policy is effective April 1, 2019 and is subject to amendment from time to time based on changes to the post-secondary system and the needs of students. 2. ELIGIBILITY Before the Athabasca Tribal Council can provide sponsorship to students the student must meeting the Student Eligibility Criteria for the Student Support Program and/or the University and College Eligibility Program (UCEP). Funding is not always guaranteed. Eligibility to be considered for funding does not guarantee that an individual will be approved to receive support. Funding approval is based on the following categories: Category 1: Student Eligibility Criteria Category 2: Program of Study Category 3: Approved Institution Category 4: Funding Priority Level Category 5: First Nation Distribution Category 1: Student Eligibility Criteria Must be of Treaty or C-31 status and is a registered band member of one of the following First Nations: . Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation . Chipewyan Prairie First Nation . Fort McMurray No.468 First Nation 5 | Page Must have been a resident in Canada for twelve consecutive months prior to the date of application for funding. Must have met university or college entrance requirements and have been enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an approved post-secondary institution for a specific program of studies. Must maintain satisfactory academic standing in accordance with the standards set out in this policy The program of studies must be longer than eight (8) months in length and must lead to a certificate, diploma or degree. Cannot be enrolled in a public secondary school where funding is provided through an agreement between the school board and an affiliated ATC First Nation, specifically for UCEPP students attending Northlands School Division institutions. Category 2: Program of Study Athabasca Tribal Council provides sponsorship under two main categories of programs; UCEPP and programs offered under the PSSSP. UCEP: Students accessing the UCEP program must identify the what post-secondary program they are working toward. PSSSP Programs: There are four (4) levels of PSSSP programming depending on the type of credential achieved following completion of the program. Where new programs are introduced by institutions after normal deadlines for applications to the ATC for sponsorship, the Director of Education has the discretion to accept late applications for that particular program. The amount of funding available to students varies depending on both the type of program and the level of program. Figure 1: Students Entry Points Post Secondary Level 2: Diploma or Level 1: UCEP Certificate/ Diploma/ Certificate Programs Degree Programs Level 4: Graduate Programs (Advanced or Level 3: Undergraduate Level 5: Doctoral Professional Degree Degree Programs Programs Programs, or Masters Programs) 6 | Page Level 1 College Preparation