Western University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The Government of Ontario, in partnership with the province's colleges and universities, delivers the Student Access Guarantee. The Student Access Guarantee’s goal is that no qualified Ontario student should be prevented from attending our public colleges and universities because of a lack of financial support. Through this guarantee, Western will provide enough financial aid to cover students’ assessed needs for tuition, books and mandatory fees if these are not fully met by OSAP. Students are automatically considered for a Student Access Guarantee aid based on OSAP application. http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/bursaries.html

There are various summer not-for-profit programs offered through the Faculty of Engineering for elementary to high school students. The programs are staffed by students which strives to increase the awareness of, and cultivate interest in engineering and technology in young people in London, Ontario and the surrounding communities. As well, there are programs offered only to girls to break down gender-biased engineering stereotypes and develop female interest in engineering. Bursaries are available in all programs for parents that would otherwise be unable to send their children to camp. The programs are: 1. Discovery Western - elementary students 2. Western Engineering Summer Academy - high school students 3. Girls' Club - Grades 5 to 9 4. Girls Recognizing Engineering and Technology - Grades 4 to 9 http://www.eng.uwo.ca/DW/default.htm Additionally, 'Bit by Bit Computer Camp' is offered in the summer through the Computer Science Department to encourage and promote awareness of technology and computer science aimed at children ages 10 to 15. http://www.csd.uwo.ca/bitbybit/

Western's Need-Based Awards are given to students based on a combination of academic merit, demonstration of financial need, and in some cases, non-academic requirements. http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/scholarships_awards/index.html

Western and the University Students' Council (USC) recognize that students often decide their future educational pathways at an early age, and have committed to successfully organize the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' (CYOA) Conference, in order to help facilitate access to resources and information about post-secondary education. The CYOA Conference has been established throughout the London community over the past seven years, and during that time, has invited many Grade 8 students to attend this informative leadership conference. CYOA is a dynamic weekend aimed to empower low income, at-risk youth in London to pursue post-secondary education after graduation. The conference provides the youth delegates with the support and encouragement to pursue their dreams and chart their own futures through activities such as mock lectures from Western University professors, inspirational speakers from the London community, budget management presentations to students and parents, a volunteer fair, and a “My Action Plan” session for youth delegates to create individual paths to success. Additionally, delegates are mentored by university student volunteers who are Leadership Developers for the conference. This year the conference hosted 130+ delegates from 9 different London schools with 50+ Leadership Developers from Western University. For more information see: http://westernusc.ca/blog/2013/05/10/university-students-council-hosts-choose-your-own-adventure-early-outreach-conference/

The Senior Citizen Bursary is available to senior citizens who are registered at main campus, and is awarded on the basis of financial need. The value of the bursary shall cover up to the cost of tuition or the maximum of $6000 per term (fall/winter) for non-grad students and $3277 per term for graduate students.

The First Generation Bursary provides direct support to students with financial need who are the first in their families to attend a post-secondary institution. The Bursary ranges from $1000-3500 dollars, and students with the highest financial need will be selected from the eligible submissions through the Financial Application Profile.

Department specific bursaries are available to part-time students from all departments. Western also offers the UWO Part-time scholarships to students who are registered in 1.0 courses on a part-time basis and are pursuing their first degree at Western. Other annually awarded scholarships/bursaries include: Angela Armitt Medals Deborah Murphy Memorial Bursary M.E. (Peggy) Collins Memorial Undergraduate Award Special Institutional Bursary Thomas N. Guinsburg Bursary

There are currently 3 child care centres at Western: University Childcare, UCC Flexible Childcare, and University Laboratory Preschool. The UCC Flexible Childcare Centre is operated on -campus by the YMCA of Western Ontario. They offer an hourly rate of $7.10 with special rates for the families of undergraduate students of Western University and for multi-sibling families.