Goal 1 - Institutional Stewardship Initiatives
Institutional Stewardship Initiatives
Since 1995, the Students’ Union Access Fund has offered non-repayable financial assistance for undergraduate students at the 海角社区. Students who are either ineligible for student loans, have reached the maximum in their student loan amounts or simply do not have access to sufficient funding can benefit from the Access Fund.
The Access Fund is created through an opt-outable student fee, enabling students to help their fellow students access over $1 million in support each year.
Admissions and Low-Income, Disadvantaged and/or Marginalized Students
The 海角社区 is committed to admitting students from low-income, disadvantaged and/or marginalized backgrounds. The For the Public Good Annual Report 2020 details recent admission statistics at the 海角社区 based on a variety of socioeconomic indicators, and the Enrolment Data and Updates from FGSR 2020-2021 report outlines recent graduate admissions metrics achieved by the university. The also contains admissions and enrollment statistics related to Indigenous students, as well as student country of origin (for international students), and the 海角社区 Indigenous Strategic Plandetails key strategies for Indigenous student recruitment, retention and program completion.
Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families
CUP is a unique collaboration that connects 海角社区 researchers with practitioners, community organizations, funders and policy makers in Edmonton and across Alberta. CUP's work involves creating and mobilizing evidence that engaged communities can use to support the well-being of children, youth and families.
Indigenous Student Resources
Indigenous Students are supported during the admissions process through the Free Application Days program. The 海角社区 also provides an optional Transition Year Program to support students in their first year of university studies. There are also numerous scholarships and awards available to help reduce barriers for Indigenous students in attending university, such as the Turtle Spirit Pathway Award for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Students.
Innovation + Entrepreneurship @UAlberta
The university has many programs, services and resources to foster and support innovation, tech and knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship.
eHUB provides limited startup funding and/or program support and has a limited number of one-time, competitive awards for high-performing incorporated student startups.
A list of 海角社区 startups and spinoff companies can be found in the Spinoffs and Startups database.
Campus Sustainability Grants program
Recent projects funded through the Campus Sustainability Grants program included a Solar-Powered Greenhouse project.
The Idea Fund is a funding program that enables students to work on their ideas beyond research and coursework. The program has two streams: the hacker stream and the business stream, and it supports passion projects, hobby projects, hacker projects and startups.
The 海角社区 Innovation Fund brings new funding opportunities alongside a supportive community of educators, mentors and champions.
By offering up to $10,000 per eligible student project, The Green Fund will be used to support projects that help make our campus more sustainable.
International Student Supports
International Student Services offers a number of free services for international students, including advising, immigration consultations, welcome services, housing resources and regular events throughout the school year. The 海角社区 also offers numerous awards, scholarships and grants to international students based on financial need and academic achievement. Notably, the 海角社区 provides financial support for International students to help alleviate financial shortfalls for lower income students and in the case of emergency situations. Bursaries and Loans for International Students and The International Supplementary Bursary Program provide these supports to cover living expenses, limit the cost of education and provide emergency financial support.
MD AIDE Program
The MD Admissions Initiative for Diversity and Equity (MD AIDE) addresses inequities in the medical school admissions process that disadvantage students facing financial barriers and students from underrepresented backgrounds. MD AIDE students receive both free MCAT and interview preparation. Students also receive access to donated MCAT prep books and AAMC practice questions and exams, and they are set up with a medical student mentor to provide guidance and support throughout the application process.
Basic Services for All
The 海角社区 recognizes that access to basic services is not guaranteed and provides a number of specialized support services, training, and programs to improve access for all.
Post Secondary Student Homelessness
This resource outline programs that are available to students on-campus and individuals off-campus in the community. These supports include, but are not limited to, the , providing free legal information and advice to low to moderate-income people in the Edmonton area; , supports for people currently experiencing homelessness; and the , providing immediate and low-barrier shelter, temporary housing, and individualized wraparound support for youth ages 15-24.
Other programs covering basic needs include the and , which provide free access to food in the campus community. The provides free sustainable period products all over the campus. For more information see "Other Student Supports" to see other programs available to students.
Other Student Supports
The provides a number of services, including food hampers, a breakfast program and a regular grocery bus to support students in need.
Campus St. Jean Transportation. The 海角社区 offers free shuttle service between the North and St. Jean campuses.
The Safe House Program offers temporary emergency accommodation for current students and their children.
Counselling & Clinical Services provides mental health services and resources to students.
Student Legal Services of Edmonton helps low-income individuals and 海角社区 students with access to justice. Student volunteers from the 海角社区 Faculty of Law provide free legal information and agency in the courts to those who would otherwise be unable to afford these services.
The University Health Centre provides health services to students. A further list of resources can be found on the Campus and Community Resources webpage.
Refugee Engagement & Support
The 海角社区 provides a number of supports for refugee students, such as the Welcoming Newcomers Program, the the David Turpin and Suromitra Sanatani Award for Refugees and Displaced Persons.
Student Financial Supports
The 海角社区 provides a number of financial supports to students. These include needs-based scholarships and awards, such as the Discover 海角社区 Award, which assists domestic students who have demonstrated financial challenges and barriers to attending university. The 海角社区 also provides bursaries and emergency funding to cover unexpected financial shortfalls, and Child Care Grants to help offset the costs of child care for students and support their degree completion.
The Domestic Supplementary Bursary program provides funds for domestic undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a financial shortfall for the current school year's academic and basic living costs. This proactive approach addresses financial barriers and enhances student success in graduation, and contributes to a more inclusive and equitable educational environment.
University Anti-Poverty Programs
The 海角社区 offers a number of support programs and resources to the campus community, including students from low income families. The Campus and Community Resources webpage lists numerous programs that are available on campus and beyond, including mental health, medical, legal, and housing and accommodations resources. The Campus and Community Resources webpage also provides information on food security, furniture and clothing, employment, child and family support, employment and financial resources.
Graduation Targets
The 海角社区 has set graduation targets to meet or exceed U15 benchmarks in its Shape: A Strategic Plan of Impact (2023–2033). The Student Demographic Census (2023-2024) demonstrates the 海角社区's active monitoring of the bottom household income groups, and implementation of equity initiatives (Stories from the Field 2023) to reduce barriers to graduation linked to poverty and low-income status. Together, these demonstrate work towards supporting low-income students in completing their studies.