Dene Tha' First Nation Post-Secondary Student Assistant Program (PSSAP)
Administered by the Coordinator of Post-Secondary Student Services (CPSSS) under the directon of the Dene Tha' First Nation Education (DTFNE)
This document is based upon the Department of Indian and Northern Development Post Secondary Student Support Program Administration Handbook of 1989.
The form of this document follows the Post Secondary Student Assistance Program originally prepared by the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council in 1992.
Document Revision History |
||
| Date | Version | Comment |
| 11/02/1994 | 1.1 | Initial document prepared by Gloria Silver |
| 04/18/1995 | 1.2 | Document draft revised |
| 05/18/1995 | 1.3 | Document draft revised |
| 06/22/1995 | 1.4 | Document draft revised and approved for use by Chief & Council |
| 09/06/1995 | 1.5 | Document draft revised change appendix 5 |
| 11/06/1995 | 1.6 | Document draft revised to include appendices 13, 14, 15 & 16 |
| 03/19/1997 | 1.7 | Document draft revised to include appendix 17 |
| 08/27/1997 | 1.8 | Document draft revised to include appendix 18 and change 5.7 |
| 04/30/1999 | 1.9 | Document draft revised to clarify support for double degrees, revise tutoring support & to update living allowance rates |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION, OBJECTIVES AND INSTRUCTIONS
5. SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS
- Application fees and tuition deposit
- Tuition fees
- Books and supplies
- Examination and interview fees
- Tutoring assistance
- Travel and moving support
- Support for living expenses
- Damage deposit support
- Special clothing and equipment
- Correspondence or extra courses
- Graduation and other expenses
6. SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS
- Tuition, resources, books and supplies
7. LENGTH/DURATION OF SUPPORT AVAILABLE
8. SCHOLARSHIPS AND INCENTIVES
10. CONSEQUENCES OF INSTITUTIONAL TERMINATION, COURSE FAILURE AND PROGRAM ABUSE
12. UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE ENTRANCE PREPARATION PROGRAM
FormsP/S Student Assistance Program Appeal Form (PDF 90kb) Tutoring Assistance Request Form (PDF 60kb) Specialized Equipment Need Confirmation (PDF 52kb) |
Introduction
This document outlines the various types of support which are available through the Dene Tha’ First Nation Education (DTFNE) Post Secondary Student Assistance Program (PSSAP) to eligible Treaty/Status Indians of the Dene Tha’ First Nation. The PSSAP will not apply to Treaty/Status Indians who have been reinstated under Bill C-31; they will be referred to North Peace Tribal Council who have been contracted by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to provide Post Secondary educational assistance.
The PSSAP provides nominal financial assistance to eligible Dene Tha’ students toward the cost of their Post Secondary (P/S) education. This document outlines the criteria, incentives, types and levels of allowance and the maximum duration of assistance that may be provided to eligible students by the PSSAP.
The PSSAP is in effect for all P/S students, including students who were previously funded by the Dene Tha’ First Nation Education (DTFNE) and new applicants beginning with the 1994/95 Academic Year.
The Dene Tha’ First Nation Chief and Council, by way of an approved Band Council Resolution (BCR), have the right to amend, delete and modify aspects of this policy to meet educational needs and based on available P/S educational budget.
The administration of the PSSAP has been assigned to the Coordinator of Post Secondary Student Services (CPSSS) who acts under the direction of the DTFNE and Chief and Council.
Objectives
The objectives of the PSSAP is to support Treaty/Status Indians of the Dene Tha’ First Nation to gain access to P/S education, to graduate with qualifications and skills needed to pursue individual careers, and to contribute to the achievement of Indian self-determination and economic self-reliance.
Instructions
Students are requested to read this policy when time permits. It is to be used as a reference for students and in most cases will answer a question concerning sponsorship needs.
The sponsorship process is simplified by the following description. Each student is interviewed by the CPSSS and given a description of the PSSAP. The student then applies to study at one or more P/S institutes. Upon acceptance at an institute, the student completes the forms of appendix 5, 6, 7 (possibly 8 & 10) and returns them along with his/her letter of acceptance to the CPSSS. The CPSSS will then appraise the application in terms of funding priority and funding availability and advise the student as promptly as possible as to whether or not his/her application for sponsorship has received approval.
The CPSSS is available to answer any question you may have.
Eligibility Criteria
Policy:
To be eligible to apply for assistance under the Dene Tha’ First Nation PSSAP, an applicant must:
- Be a Treaty/Status Indian whose name appears on the list as a member of the Dene Tha’ First Nation.
- Have met University or College Entrance requirements.
- Have been enrolled in, or accepted for enrollment in a program of study at a P/S institute.
- Have been interviewed by the CPSSS, received an application package, applied and been accepted by a P/S institute. The applicant must return proof of acceptance, an outline of program cost, tuition, books and supplies costs, and completed & signed copies of all standard DTFNE forms to the CPSSS.
Procedure:
Eligible applicants will be assigned a priority number prior to final acceptance. Support will be provided within the limit of funds available in the DTFNE P/S education budget. If support required for eligible students exceeds the budget available, applicants will be given priority according to the priority list on the following page.
The CPSSS has the discretion to deny funding to any student. However, reasons must be given and the student is entitled to appeal the decision using the appeal procedure outlined in the PSSAP.
Program Funding Priorities
Policy:
Qualified applicants to the PSSAP will be assigned a funding priority number according to the following criteria (every effort will be made to provide funding to Bushie River, Chateh and Meander River based on student needs):
Priority #1 – Continuing Students
Students continuing their studies from the current academic year without a break (not including summer break between academic years).
Priority #2 – Grade 12 Students
Students who have successfully completed their high school education and have been accepted in a P/S institution.
Priority #3 – Deferred Students
Those whose applications were deferred due to lack of funding and who are reapplying for support.
Priority #4 – Mature Students
Those accepted in certificate, diploma or degree programs under the category of “mature students”.
Priority #5 – University College Entrance Preparation (UCEP) Students
Students who need to complete prerequisites to pursue subsequent P/S education and who will attend preparation programs to a maximum duration of one academic year.
Priority #6 – Previous Withdrawals
Students who have sporadically attended P/S institutions over a number of years or who have not yet used the maximum sponsorship duration available from the DTFNE PSSAP.
Priority #7 – Extended Duration of Sponsored Students
Students who have reached the total length/duration of sponsorship available under the PSSAP but who can, after being sponsored for one additional term, successfully graduate from their program of study.
Priority #8 – Bill C-31 Students
On the condition of available funding within the existing PSSAP budget, on-reserve Bill C-31 students on a term by term basis who have applied to INAC but been denied sponsorship for the current term due to lack of available funding.
Priority #9 – Off-reserve Students
On the condition of available funding within the existing PSSAP budget, all off-reserve Dene Tha’ students on a term by term basis who have applied to INAC but been denied sponsorship for the current term due to lack of available funding.
Procedure:
If funding support for qualified applicants exceeds the funds available in the DTFNE P/S education budget, applicants will be given priority according to the above list. All the students should be aware that if funding is limited, the final priority category accommodated in any fiscal year will be on the basis of individual student academic achievement.
Application Process
Policy:
All students must complete a DTFNE application for educational assistance as outlined in this policy by completing, signing and returning applicable forms contained in the appendices to the CPSSS as soon as possible. All students must also apply to and be accepted by an P/S institution before their application for sponsorship can be considered, processed and finalized by the DTFNE.
Students who must attend a personal interview at an educational institute as a condition of acceptance by the institute will be provided with travel and accommodation financial assistance. Only one interview per academic year will be provided by the DTFNE.
Assistance will be provided to continuing students who submit a completed application, letter of acceptance and an official transcript at the end of each academic year.
Students will be advised regarding the status of their application as soon as possible by the DTFNE CPSSS.
All students information submitted to and received by the DTFNE and/or the CPSSS will remain confidential.
Procedure:
New students seeking sponsorship must be interviewed by the CPSSS prior to applying for entrance to a P/S institute. The CPSSS will list recommended institutes for the program of study desired, give the student a DTFNE application package and verbally outline the procedure to follow and describe sponsorship details, limits and guidelines.
Applicants are encouraged to file their applications by April 1st for September intake, and September 1st for January intake. Acceptance to a P/S institute must be verified by a letter of acceptance from that institute. Applicants must complete the standard DTFNE application forms.
The CPSSS will calculate the amount of financial assistance to be provided to each student, will inform applicants as soon as possible regarding the status of their application and the amount and date of payments once an application is approved.
Support Available for Full-time Students
Application Fees and Tuition Deposit
Policy:
The DTFNE will reimburse a student for the cost of making an application for enrollment at a P/S institute.
Although the cost of an application fee is covered by the DTFNE, it does not necessarily mean that the cost of the educational program is automatically covered as well.
The DTFNE will reimburse a maximum of three applications per student per academic year. The CPSSS has the discretion to approve additional P/S applications. Otherwise, the student must cover the cost, out of pocket, for additional P/S institute applications.
If the application to the P/S institute is successful, the student will be wait listed for subsequent sponsorship as outlined in the funding priorities section.
The student must forward any letter of acceptance received from the institute he/she has applied to as soon as it is received. Failure to do so may result in the loss of acceptance at the institute if the required tuition/registration deposit is not paid on time. This deposit is required by some institutes in order to reserve the student’s place in the program. The DTFNE will pay the tuition deposit in accordance with the institute policies, but his does not necessarily mean that the student has been approved for sponsorship.
If the student has received a letter of acceptance from the institute but not communicated with the DTFNE and the date of the required tuition/registration deposit in near, it is the student’s responsibility to make the required payment in order not to lose his/her place in the program. The student must retain and present the tuition deposit receipt to the CPSSS in order to be reimbursed for the expenditure.
Procedure:
The student may seek assistance from the CPSSS when making his/her application. If the student elects to make an application without the assistance of the CPSSS, it is strongly recommended that the student contact the P/S institute by phone and prescreen his/her application with the institute program coordinator. This will avoid the spending money on an application that will be rejected due to insufficient P/S prerequisites. The student must request an official receipt from the P/S institute and present this receipt to the CPSSS in order to be reimbursed for the expenditure. The amount will be paid in Canadian funds. The receipt must also be detailed so that it is clear that it is an application fee or a tuition/registration deposit.
Tuition Fees
Policy:
Tuition support, including student’s fees for registration and tuition, will be provided for:
- Students who enroll in Canadian public institutions and who are charged the normal tuition rate for a Canadian student.
- Students who attend private or foreign institutions will be provided the same tuition support as that charged by the Canadian institute which is nearest to the student’s place of residence at the time of application and offers a comparable program. The program must be accredited by the applicable governing body in Canada or no support will be provided.
- Students who enroll in a foreign institution will receive support for the actual tuition, when no comparable program is available in Canada. The program must be accredited by the applicable governing body in Canada or no support will be provided.
Procedure:
Following the approval of the application for sponsorship and verification of the student’s enrollment, tuition fees will be paid directly to the institution in Canadian funds. The student will be required to pay the balance of his/her tuition fees over and above that provided to the student by the DTFNE.
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Books and Supplies
Policy:
Support for books and supplies will normally cover textbooks and supplies, including special equipment, officially listed by the P/S institute as required for the student’s program of study.
- Books and supplies will be funded only to levels indicated by official program documentation as provided by the P/S institute. This funding is only available if the student attends for the respective semester.
- Tuition, books and supplies will be paid by on a semester by semester basis only. Second term expenses will not be advanced/covered until proof of successful first semester completion is received by the DTFNE.
- No direct funds will be advanced to a student for the purpose of purchasing books and supplies. Only necessary books and supplies as detailed by the program will be covered by the DTFNE. The DTFNE will establish a books and supply limit at the P/S institute bookstore where the student can acquire his books. Any purchase made that is found not to be a program requirement will be deducted from subsequent student living allowance payments.
- Direct funds will be advanced to students in circumstances where the DTFNE is unable to employ direct billing methods with the P/S institute bookstore. Under no circumstances will the DTFNE provide duplicate payments to student. Should a student fail to use the money advanced for the purpose for which it was intended, the student will be required to resolve the matter without further assistance or support from the DTFNE.
Procedure:
After the student has received confirmation of sponsorship from the DTFNE the CPSSS will forward a letter of sponsorship to the P/S institution. The letter of sponsorship will establish an account and credit limit at the institution book store for the student to acquire his/her books and supplies. The student should visit the bookstore at his/her earliest convenience and verify that the account has been setup and acquire his/her books before existing stock is depleted.
Examination and Interview Fees
Policy:
The DTFNE will pay fees for examinations or interviews which are required for entrance into professional and accredited programs. These include the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dentistry Admission Test Standard (DATS), Nursing, etc.
The DTFNE will provide assistance for the cost of one examination or interview only. The institute must confirm that the examination or interview is a requirement for entry into the student’s program. The student must cover the cost of any additional examinations at his/her own expense.
The DTFNE reserves the right to arrange the exam at the least expense to the DTFNE. For example, a Skills Appraisal exam can be brought to the student, rather than the student travelling to take the exam. The student must give the CPSSS forewarning and sufficient time to consider examination logistics and alternatives.
Tutoring Assistance
Policy:
The DTFNE may fund costs associated with tutoring to aid students having difficulty in specific courses of study. The student must advise the CPSSS in advance of the need to access tutoring assistance.
The student must arrange tutoring assistance with the approval and/or assistance of thecourse instructor in which he/she is experiencing difficulty.
The student must have 95% attendance or better in the course for which he/she is applying for tutoring assistance.
The total amount of tutoring time required cannot exceed ½ of the instructional time of the course.
Tutoring assistance will not be provided more than once for any course.
Procedure:
The students should use the tutoring form contained in appendix-9 which provides the following:
- It provides confirmation from the student’s professor or program faculty stating that tutoring is necessary and the proposed amount is acceptable.
- It gives the student the proper procedure for finding a tutor or suitable tutors. This can usually be done with the assistance of the instructor of the course in which the student is experiencing difficulty.
- It makes direct application to the DTFNE for the proper amount of tutoring required as confirmed by the course instructor.
It is understood that the DTFNE will budget a set amount for all student tutoring needs at beginning of the academic year. Application for tutorial assistance must be made to CPSSS as soon as possible as it may require time to verify if the education budget will allow for such support. Tutoring expenditures by the DTFNE will be limited by that budget or by additional resources available at the time of the request.
Travel and Moving Support
Policy:
Students who are required to live away from their permanent place of residence may qualify for a travel grant at Christmas for themselves and any eligible dependants who reside with them. The Christmas travel grant if unused by the student is not transferable to another time.
Travel support will be equal to the cost of return transportation from the student’s permanent place of residence to the nearest Canadian P/S institute which offers the program of studies which the student is enrolled in. Travel should be arranged through the most economical means, for example by bus transportation.
Students will also be provided travel expenses or a $200.00 moving allowance at the beginning of the academic year and at the end of the academic year.
Students are encouraged to retain their school residence during session breaks between academic years by seeking local employment in early April or, after failing to secure local employment, by applying for social assistance sometime around the middle of April. This will avoid having to move his/her possessions and belongings back and forth between home and school.
Travel for practicum’s, when necessary, should be arranged in advance by the student with the CPSSS and should use the most economical means of transportation.
Dene Tha’ First Nation standard travel mileage rates as offered to Band employees do not apply to P/S student related travel.
Procedure:
Travel support may be denied at the discretion of the CPSSS. However, reasons must be given and the student is entitled to appeal the decision using the appeal procedure outlined in the PSSAP.
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Support for Living Expenses
Policy:
Support for living expenses is provided and intended to cover such costs as food, shelter, clothing, daily transportation, day-care, rental items and contingency funding.
Monthly allowances to assist students to fund their living expenses will be provided at the rates outlined in Appendix-2: Post Secondary Student Living Allowance Rates.
When students attend foreign institutes, living allowances will not exceed the rates detailed in appendix-2 and will be paid in Canadian funds.
In view of their reduced housing costs, students who are living at home situated on Dene Tha’ First Nation territory will have their living allowance reduced by 25%. The reduction does not apply to single students living with employed parents off-reserve.
Students who are on any type of leave with pay from their place of employment will not qualify for assistance with living expenses, unless their employment wage is less than the living allowance they would receive as outlined in appendix-2. In this case, the employer portion may be supplemented to equal the applicable rate level outlined in appendix-2.
For programs that are offered sporadically, through part time attendance and part time correspondence, the living allowance will be based upon the number of days per month required to travel and attend classes. The monthly rate as given in appendix-2 will be reduced by the factor (number of days travel + number of days classes)/(number of days in the month).
The method of payment for living allowances will be by mail delivery of post dated cheques. Individual cheque cashing dates are indicated in appendix-2 although not all dates apply to each student. Students are responsible for providing the CPSSS with an accurate up-to-date mailing address before the 15th day of the month prior to their move. Students who move without advising the CPSSS must ensure that their mail is redirected. The CPSSS will not issue a second payment until the missing payment is rectified; either by a returned cheque or by confirmation of a stop payment order issued by the bank.
Students wishing direct deposits to bank accounts must arrange for a relative or friend to pick-up or receive the payment and make the deposit on the student’s behalf. The DTFNE must be given written instruction by the student before living allowance cheques will be directed or given to someone else other than the student.
Under no circumstances will the DTFNE provide duplicate payments to a student. Should the student fail to use the living allowance for the purpose of covering expenses such as monthly rental payments, the student will be required to resolve the matter on his/her own without further assistance or support from the DTFNE.
Income level verification of an employed/dependent spouse may be required at time of application.
In cases where dependents are being claimed, proof of dependents will be required by submitting Alberta Health Care numbers for all claimed dependents. For a school age child living with the student, the name of the school the child is attending may also be required.
Any student may apply for a bursary and/or scholarship and, if successful, any financial award received will not impact the level of support provided by the DTFNE. The DTFNE encourages all students to achieve and apply for these types of award. If the student needs help in locating suitable awards he/she should approach the CPSSS.
While the PSSAP makes no specific provision against students receiving Social Assistance while also receiving an educational sponsorship from the DTFNE, students are cautioned to disclose all sources of income (including the amount of your educational sponsorship monthly living allowance) to Social Services so your monthly social assistance payment may be adjusted accordingly. Failure to disclose all sources of income to Social Services may result in legal action by Social Services to recover any and all overpayments made.
Support for Damage Deposit Payments
Policy:
Students who must move to attend school are eligible for damage deposit support.
The DTFNE will provide a fixed damage deposit payment to eligible students to assist them is securing a residence near to their institute of study.
Eligible students will receive, at most, one (1) damage deposit payment for each academic year of study. Beginning September 1999, the amount is $500.00.
If the damage deposit required exceeds the amount provided, the student must make up the difference.
The damage deposit becomes the property of the student. When a student moves and vacates his/her residence, any portion of the damage deposit recovered may be kept by the student. It is in the best interest of each student to vacate their old premises leaving it clean and with sufficient advance notice to their landlords. This will ensure that most of the damage deposit is returned to the student by the landlord.
Procedure:
The payment is provided automatically to all students who are relocating for the academic year.
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Special Clothing and Equipment Support
Policy:
Allowances will not be provided for regular clothing which students are expected to purchase from their living allowances. However, some courses and institutions require special uniforms or safety equipment for using/operating tools. These items may be funded if the institute provides written verification or program outlines that state that they are required by the program.
Some courses require the student to have special equipment. The PSSAP does not specifically purchase any special equipment for student use. However, the DTFNE can provide funds for students to rent or lease equipment during the duration of the course/program requiring the equipment. The equipment must be required by the program and the student must arrange for the institute to provide written support of this requirement to the DTFNE. This letter must state that the equipment is specifically required for a course or that without the equipment the student may fail the course. The form found in appendix-11 should be used.
If the student wants to purchase program related equipment using his/her own resources, the DTFNE will provide a letter of support similar to appendix-12. The student may find the letter useful at a loan or lease agency in helping him/her to access loan financing for the equipment purchase.
There are no allowances provided for the rental of typewriters or word processors for general use. Many P/S institutes and native student services offer access to computer and word processing systems to the student at no charge. The need for special equipment will be considered only if the DTFNE has sufficient P/S funding on hand to support it.
Procedure:
The institution that the student is attending must provide written verification of the need of the special clothing, safety equipment, tools or special equipment to the CPSSS prior to the approval of the allowance. The form provided in appendix-11 should be used.
Correspondence or Extra Courses
Policy:
If a full time student wants to take additional courses related to his/her program of study he/she may do so under the following circumstances:
- The DTFNE will fund the course as long as the institute confirms that the regular course load is such that the additional course may be taken without jeopardizing the existing program. The time of the course must not conflict with any of the student’s regular program courses.
- The course must be relevant to the program of study and be accredited towards the student’s program.
If a full time student wants to take additional courses outside his/her program of study he/she may do so under the following circumstances:
- The DTFNE will fund the course as long as the institute confirms that the regular course load is such that the additional course may be taken without jeopardizing the existing program. The time of the course must not conflict with any of the student’s regular program courses.
- The course must be relevant to the program of study and be accredited towards the student’s program.
- The course costs must be covered by the student and upon successful completion all costs will be reimbursed by the DTFNE.
Note: No additional funds are available for this purpose, but funding may be available within existing budgets.
Graduation and Other Expenses
Policy:
Graduation related expenses may be considered by the DTFNE if funding permits. Graduation expenses are limited and can include: Suit/gown rental.
Tickets for official faculty sanctioned graduation functions.
Travel support for a spouse or parents to attend the student’s graduation.
Other types of P/S related expenses may be considered. The CPSSS must be made aware of and give approval for the expense prior to it being incurred.
Procedure:
The student must contact the CPSSS, request the graduation expense cash advance and provide details concerning anticipated expenses.
The CPSSS will advance funds necessary to cover these anticipated expenses. After expenses have been incurred, the student must submit receipts to the CPSSS to verify cost. Failure to provide receipts will result in a reduction to the graduation award available to the student by the amount of the unaccounted part of the graduation expense cash advance.
All other types of P/S related expenses must be approved by the CPSSS before they are incurred by the student. The student must retain and forward detailed receipts to the CPSSS in order to be reimbursed. Funding will not be advanced for making these types of purchases.
Note: If funding is not available for the current fiscal year to support graduation expenses, reimbursement will be budgeted in the following fiscal year.
Support Available for Part-time Students
Tuition, Resources, Books and Supplies
Policy:
Part-time students may receive support for tuition and resources as well as books and supplies listed by the P/S institution as required. Part-time students do not qualify for travel and monthly living allowance expenses (students who are in home study programs are considered part-time students).
Correspondence courses must be paid for directly by the student and upon successful completion provide the DTFNE with evidence of completion and all course related receipts. The receipts must be detailed to the extent that it is apparent that they are course related expenditures. The student will then be reimbursed for the total cost of eligible receipts.
Procedure:
To receive continuing assistance students must provide evidence of satisfactory progress in their program of study (usually a copy of their transcripts) to the CPSSS.
Length/Duration of Support Available
Policy:
Assistance will be provided for three levels of P/S education:
Level-I
- Community college, diploma and certificate programs for two (2) academic years.
Level-II:
- Undergraduate programs for four (4) academic years, e.g. Bachelor Degrees.
Level-III:
- Professional degree programs for three (3) academic years, e.g. Law, Medicine, etc.
- Master Degrees for two (2) academic years.
- Doctoral Degrees for one (1) academic year.
See Appendix-3: Program Support Limits Within Each Post/Secondary Level.
The CPSSS has the discretion to extend the sponsorship duration for Level II & III programs whenever a graduation outcome is certain and funding is still available after the needs of all other eligible students have been considered and addressed. Students requiring an extra term to successfully graduate from their program will be assigned a funding priority #7.
Level-II and Level-III programs must be back to back, without interruption longer than a normal session break, or the student will not be eligible for Level-III sponsorship.
Note: “Academic year” is defined by the P/S institution, but will not be less than eight months in duration (see appendix-1).
Scholarships and Incentives
Academic Achievement Awards
Policy:
In recognition of their achievement the Dene Tha’ First Nation may award scholarships to full time students in all levels who have a grade point average of 7.5 (B) or higher in their program of study.
Procedure:
The CPSSS may consider students for scholarship awards after receiving satisfactory confirmation of achievement (official transcripts).
Note: No additional funds are available for this purpose, but funding may be available within existing budgets.
Completion Awards
Policy:
In recognition of the time, devotion, and hard work that is required to complete a P/S educational program, students who have successfully completed their program of study will be provided with an award as follows:
| Level-I | One (1) Year Certificate Program | $100.00 |
| One (1) Year Diploma Program following a Certificate Program | $150.00 | |
| Two (2) Year Diploma Program | $250.00 | |
| Level-II | Bachelor Degree | $500.00 |
| Level-III | Masters Degree | $1,000.00 |
| Doctorate Degree | $2,000.00 |
In addition to the financial awards detailed above, each student will also receive a cultural gift/award to emphasize the cultural and traditional significance of his/her accomplishment.
The amount of the above awards may be reduced in order to recover any unresolved overpayment made to the student during the period of sponsorship. For example, if the student fails to return an advance, the student fails to submit graduation expense receipts, etc.
Procedure:
The CPSSS will submit the names of the graduates to the DTFNE Director of Education and to Chief and Council once evidence of graduation is received (photocopy of diploma or certificate or as determined by the CPSSS).
Termination of Funding
Policy:
The CPSSS will suspend payments to any student being sponsored under the PSSAP under the following conditions:
- Notice is received of the student withdrawing or dropping out of a program of study.
- Notice is received of the student withdrawing or dropping out of any course within his/her program of study without first discussing it with and receiving approval from the CPSSS.
- The student’s course load classification changes from full-time to part time.
- The student fails to obtain the minimum credits required by his/her chosen program of study during the academic year.
- Program attendance is not to the satisfaction of the P/S institute academic advisor (i.e. if it is deemed that the student has missed too much class time to recover).
- The student has provided false information on his/her application for sponsorship which resulted in the receipt of a higher living allowance rate classification than eligible for or resulted in a damage deposit loan the student did not require. The student must realize that PSSAP funding is limited and to receive more than he/she is justly due may cause another student to be wrongly denied sponsorship due to presumed lack of funding.
Consequences of Institutional Termination, Course Failure, and PSSAP Abuse
Policy:
If a student is terminated from the institute he/she is attending, for any reason, that student will not be eligible PSSAP sponsorship for P/S program funding for one (1) academic year following the termination.
If a student fails a course within his program of study, future sponsorship will not be granted to retake the same course.
Students who abuse the PSSAP sponsorship guidelines will be required to repay any overpayments in full to the DTFNE.
If a student determines that his/her program choice is in error and is able to conduct an orderly withdrawal from the program which results in a tuition and books expenditures reimbursement to the DTFNE, the DTFNE may consider sponsoring the student earlier than one (1) full academic year following the withdrawal. However, lost moneys in terms of living allowance and supplies may be reclaimed through monthly deductions from future sponsorship payments.
Procedure:
A student who has abused the PSSAP sponsorship guidelines in the past, who reapplies and is approved for PSSAP sponsorship will have monthly deductions taken from his/her living allowance payments until any overpayment is repaid. If a student, who has abused the PSSAP sponsorship guidelines in the past, becomes a band employee at a later date and the overpayment has not been repaid, the overpayment may be deducted from earned wages.
Appeal Process
Policy:
To ensure fairness and equitable treatment an appeal process is contained within the PSSAP to enable students to appeal decisions made by the CPSSS while considering the student’s problem within the existing framework of the PSSAP.
If the student is unhappy with the decision of the CPSSS, he/she may appeal the decision to the DTFNE Director of Education using the form outlined in appendix-4.
If still unhappy after making his/her appeal to the Director of Education, the student may make one final appeal to the DTFNE Director of Operations, again using the form of appendix-4.
All decisions of the Director of Operations shall be considered final for the particular appeal in question, but need not be followed by the CPSSS for future claims of similar nature until the appeal decision is confirmed by a subsequent band council resolution (BCR). The BCR will modify the PSSAP and the CPSSS’s subsequent interpretation of the PSSAP.
Any appeal is automatically denied in instances where the DTFNE P/S educational budget is fully committed and where a decision favorable to the student would place the DTFNE P/S budget in a deficit condition.
Procedure:
A student begins an appeal by writing to the CPSSS and providing an outline of the decision he/she is appealing and the reasons why the decision is being appealed. The appeal form contained in appendix-4 of the PSSAP may be used by the student to make his/her appeal.
Appeals are to be held at the convenience of the student as much as possible and within 60 days from the time the student files the appeal.
If expenses are involved in hearing the appeal, the DTFNE will cover necessary expenses, but not honorarium, from the P/S education funding budget.
University and College Entrance Preparation Program
Student Eligibility
Policy:
University and College Entrance Preparation (UCEP) programs are offered at Canadian universities and community colleges to enable students to attain the academic requirements for entrance into degree, diploma or certificate programs. This section details the terms and conditions under which the DTFNE would provide financial support to eligible students who are accepted into UCEP programs.
Student eligibility for support is contingent upon the following conditions:
- The applicant must be a member of the Dene Tha’ First Nation who resides in Canada and has been accepted for enrollment in a Canadian P/S institute offering the UCEP program.
- The applicant must be at least 19 years of age as of September 1st in the year in which he/she applies for support from the DTFNE.
- At the time of enrollment in the UCEP program the applicant must have attained a minimum of five one year courses at the grade 11 level or the equivalent from the following subject areas: English/French, a second language, mathematics, history, geography, social studies, chemistry, physics and biology. A student possessing a solid grade 10 in Math, Social Studies and English and scoring adequately on a Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT) exam may also qualify for UCEP.
- The applicant must provide a letter to the CPSSS from the P/S institution offering the UCEP program stating that:
- The student can attain the academic level for university or college entrance within the period of one academic year.
- The student will be accepted at a regular university or college credit program upon successful completion of the UCEP program.
- The applicant must not have been previously sponsored by the DTFNE for any other P/S educational programs. Exemptions to this condition may be made for medical reasons.
Procedure:
New students seeking sponsorship must be interviewed by the DTFNE CPSSS prior to applying for entrance to a P/S institute. The CPSSS will give the student a DTFNE application package and verbally outline the procedure to follow and describe sponsorship details, limits and guidelines.
At the end of the first semester of the UCEP program the student must provide the CPSSS with a progress report from the institution confirming successful completion of the first semester of the UCEP academic year and showing that he/she has obtained the prerequisites for entry into a diploma or credit program. This is a requirement for continued sponsorship for the second semester of the UCEP program.
A UCEP student must provide the CPSSS with an official transcript of his/her grades at the end of the academic year. Students attending institutions which do not normally provide transcripts at the end of a semester (such as the University of Alberta) must submit an official transcript from the Registrar’s office.
Eligibility Sponsorship Costs
Policy:
Support levels for tuition and living costs will be similar to those provided to P/S students. The following list references applicable sections of the PSSAP which also apply to sponsorship support for UCEP students:
- Application fee support as detailed in section 5-0.
- Tuition support as detailed in section 5-1.
- Books and supplies support as detailed in section 5-2.
- Examination fees as detailed in section 5-3.
- Tutoring assistance as detailed in section 5-4.
- Travel support as detailed in section 5-5.
- Support for living expenses as detailed in section 5-6.
- Damage deposit support as detailed in section 5-7.
- Correspondence or extra courses as detailed in section 5-9.
Procedure:
New students seeking sponsorship must be interviewed by the DTFNE CPSSS prior to applying for entrance to a P/S institute. The CPSSS will give the student a DTFNE application package and verbally outline the procedure to follow and describe sponsorship details, limits and guidelines.
At the end of the first semester of the UCEP program the student must provide the CPSSS with a progress report from the institution confirming successful completion of the first semester of the UCEP academic year and showing that he/she has obtained the prerequisites for entry into a diploma or credit program. This is a requirement for continued sponsorship for the second semester of the UCEP program.
A UCEP student must provide the CPSSS with an official transcript of his/her grades at the end of the academic year. Students attending institutions which do not normally provide transcripts at the end of a semester (such as the University of Alberta) must submit an official transcript from the Registrar’s office.
Completion Awards
Policy:
Support levels for tuition and living costs will be similar to those provided to P/S students. The following list references applicable sections of the PSSAP which also apply to sponsorship support for UCEP students:
- Application fee support as detailed in section 5-0.
- Tuition support as detailed in section 5-1.
- Books and supplies support as detailed in section 5-2.
- Examination fees as detailed in section 5-3.
- Tutoring assistance as detailed in section 5-4.
- Travel support as detailed in section 5-5.
- Support for living expenses as detailed in section 5-6.
- Damage deposit support as detailed in section 5-7.
- Correspondence or extra courses as detailed in section 5-9.
Procedure:
New students seeking sponsorship must be interviewed by the DTFNE CPSSS prior to applying for entrance to a P/S institute. The CPSSS will give the student a DTFNE application package and verbally outline the procedure to follow and describe sponsorship details, limits and guidelines.
At the end of the first semester of the UCEP program the student must provide the CPSSS with a progress report from the institution confirming successful completion of the first semester of the UCEP academic year and showing that he/she has obtained the prerequisites for entry into a diploma or credit program. This is a requirement for continued sponsorship for the second semester of the UCEP program.
A UCEP student must provide the CPSSS with an official transcript of his/her grades at the end of the academic year. Students attending institutions which do not normally provide transcripts at the end of a semester (such as the University of Alberta) must submit an official transcript from the Registrar’s office.