Student Access Guarantee

To the best of our ability we ensure that available funds are directed to those students who are most in need, taking personal and family resources into consideration. As part of the Ontario government's Student Access Guarantee, students are expected to apply for OSAP assistance, and accept funding up to the funding limits allowed through the OSAP assessment process. Out-of-province students are expected to rely on programs of government assistance in their home provinces, but can request consideration for need-based support if they have unmet need. Assessed need which remains unmet above the OSAP maximum will be considered.

First-Entry (First Degree) Undergraduate Students

Second-Entry Professional and Graduate Studies Students

General Need-Based Assistance

Other Important Financial Resources

First-Entry (First Degree) Undergraduate Students
First-entry undergraduate students who are in receipt of OSAP but whose full direct education costs (tuition, fee and book costs) have not been considered through the OSAP assessment will be automatically considered for non-repayable institutional support to address this shortfall in OSAP funding.

Second-Entry Professional and Graduate Studies Students:

• Second-entry professional and graduate program students who are in receipt of OSAP support may apply for consideration for supplemental institutional support if they face financial challenges.
• The application for the University of Windsor In-Course Bursary Program is available through the Awards Search function on the website.
• The shortfall between the OSAP allowances for direct education costs (tuition, fee and book costs) and actual costs will be considered.
• Students who have come from the most financially disadvantaged backgrounds will have had a strong reliance on government student assistance programs (OSAP) to finance their first undergraduate experience.  They will receive proportionately more non-repayable aid, while those students who have not assumed a high debt load through government student assistance programs (OSAP) throughout their first undergraduate experience will be offered proportionately less non-repayable assistance.

Second-entry students who have not accumulated any OSAP debt throughout their first undergraduate degree will be referred to the Student Line of Credit options available to graduate and professional program students through major lending institutions.

NB: Law students who face funding shortfalls and whose Student Access Guarantee will be met in whole or in part through a Student Line of Credit option will be referred to the preferred lender agreement in place with Scotiabank.

Those students who have accumulated some OSAP debt throughout their first undergraduate degree (total after Ontario Student Opportunity Grants (OSOG) have been factored in) will receive a portion of their shortfall in direct education costs (tuition, fee and book costs) as a non-repayable institutional award, and be referred to Student Line of Credit options for the remaining shortfall as appropriate…

• Up to $10,000 in OSAP debt outstanding – 25% non-repayable aid
• Up to $20,000 in OSAP debt outstanding – 50% non-repayable aid
• Over $20,000 in OSAP debt outstanding – 100% non-repayable aid

Students who wish to manage their debtload through part-time employment income may request to be considered for a Work Study position to decrease their dependence upon external Student Line of Credit support.  Applications for the University of Windsor Work Study Program can be made via the Award Search function on the Student Information System.

Students who are unsuccessful in securing a Student Line of Credit (for example, due to disqualifying credit histories) will have recourse to document these circumstances through an appeal process.

General Need-Based Assistance:
All students who request assistance and who are ineligible for government support for some exceptional reasons such as disqualifying credit histories, or who have exceptional circumstances which are not reflected in the OSAP assessment mechanism, are not eligible for the University of Windsor Access Guarantee. However, these requests for funding are assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether support from the University is appropriate, funding availability and governing regulations permitting. Students who do not apply or qualify for OSAP loan assistance after exhausting all OSAP appeal options must provide 1) copies of their parents’/spouse’s Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessments, 2) documentation of their current income, 3) an explanation of their exceptional circumstances, and 4) a detailed financial plan for the academic year.

Appeal Outline for General Need Based Assistance

International students must demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to meet their financial needs in order to qualify for a student visa for study purposes. However, an Emergency Bursary program will be available to provide some assistance to international students who encounter unforeseen and severe financial difficulties.

Students searching for assistance opportunities may use the University of Windsor on-line awards search function available through the Student Information System.

Other Important Financial Resources

ONTARIO STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (OSAP):
Apply on-line at http://osap.gov.on.ca

IN-COURSE AWARDS:
Awards offered to students in second year and beyond, based on consideration of at least one of the following attributes: academic merit, financial need, school involvement.

BURSARIES & GRANTS:
Monetary awards based primarily on financial need and academic merit.

WORK STUDY POSITIONS:
Part-time job opportunities on campus to assist students who have financial need.

ON-LINE AWARD SEARCH - AWARDS INFORMATION:
http://uwindsor.ca/sis
You must login to the Student Information System with your Student Identification Number and your Access Code.  Scroll down and click on "Awards Information" - Search for U of W Scholarships, Awards and Need-based assistance (including the Work Study Program).

OTHER BURSARIES/SCHOLARSHIPS may be available through  a parents’ or spouses’ employer or unions and service organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion.

LINE OF CREDIT
Students can apply at most major Banks or Credit Unions

IONA COLLEGE @ 208 Sunset Avenue
Home Cooked Student Dinners $2.00 Every Monday and Thursday

FOOD BANK SERVICE
During the fall and winter semesters: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
For more information call (519) 973-7039
http://ionacollege.edu

STUDENT COUNSELLING CENTRE
2nd floor of the CAW Student Centre, Room 293
Open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday
For more information call (519) 253-3000 Ext. 4616
http://uwindsor.ca/scc

CITY OF WINDSOR SOCIAL SERVICES
Students may be eligible for temporary financial assistance through Ontario Works if not receiving OSAP. For more information please contact (519) 255-5600
http://citywindsor.ca

COMMUNITY LEGAL AID (CLA)
CLA provides free legal advice and representation to University of Windsor full-time undergraduates and low-income Essex County residents.
Please contact CLA at (519) 253 - 7150 to arrange an appointment.

ONTARIO TRILLIUM DRUG PROGRAM
The Trillium Drug Program helps people who have high drug costs in relation to their income. Trillium application kits are available at your local pharmacy or by calling the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care INFO line at 1-800-268-1154.
http://health.gov.on.ca

CREDIT COUNSELLING SERVICES OF SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Contact: (519) 258-2030
http://ccswindsor.com

FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES
Some restrictions may apply. Please call first for details.

St. John’s Anglican Church, 3305 Sandwich St.
Tuesday & Thursday 9 a.m. – noon
519-253-4824

Blessed Sacrament Church, 3707 Queen St.
Delivery on Saturday mornings
519-256-1815

Women in Co-operation, 263 Bridge St.
Wednesday & Friday noon – 3 p.m.
519-971-7595

Downtown Mission, 644 Victoria St.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:30 – 3:30
Also, lunch served at noon 7 days a week
519-973-5573

Assumption Church, 350 Huron Church Rd.
519-283-2493

AFFORDABLE CLOTHING
Value Village, 2411 Dougall Ave.
Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
519-250-8818

Blessed Sacrament Church, 3707 Queen St.
FREE clothing
Second Tuesday of every month at noon – call first
519-256-1815