The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenging and unique environment for postsecondary students in Ontario who’ve had to navigate uncharted waters of social isolation, financial pressure and the move to remote program and service delivery.
Recognizing this, Georgian has developed a new $1-million COVID-19 hardship bursary that will help to ease the financial burden our students are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. The COVID Hardship Bursary will be split equally among eligible domestic and international students who are enrolled in a regular, full-time postsecondary program for the summer semester and demonstrate an urgent financial need.
“We fully recognize the financial pressure our students may have experienced as a direct result of COVID-19 and we are committed to supporting them in completing their semester successfully,” said Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO, Georgian College. “During this pandemic, postsecondary institutions play a critical role in supporting not only our students, but our communities too. Each one of our students have individual goals, and we are dedicated to helping them reach those goals and producing talented graduates that contribute to a stronger economy and society.”
The fund is designed to help provide immediate short-term relief; it’s not intended as a source of long-term funding. It is meant to assist students who are in urgent need of financial support to assist with basic necessities such as housing costs, utilities or technology required to complete their program. It’s also expected that students will have explored all other sources of emergency funding, such as support programs offered by the federal or provincial governments, study period income, and OSAP, before applying for support from the COVID Hardship Bursary.
The bursary has been established with the support of generous donors, the Georgian College Students’ Association and the Ontario Government.
This financial support is in addition to emergency funds Georgian disbursed to students over the winter semester. International students collectively received more than $80,000 through the COVID Hardship Bursary, while close to $2 million was disbursed to domestic students during the academic year through a variety of bursary and other funding programs.
In addition to financial support, Georgian has offered student supports such as counselling, technical and academic assistance remotely since the pandemic required the college to halt in-person services in mid-March. Georgian also loaned more than 200 laptops to students to help complete the winter semester – with an additional 300 available for summer semester students.
Students who are interested in applying for the COVID Hardship Bursary can find the application form under the “money” tab on Georgian’s student portal. Applications will be accepted starting today (May 12) until Wednesday, June 3 at 4:30 p.m. Applications will be reviewed until June 15 and funds will be disbursed to eligible students shortly afterward.
Georgian continues to do everything we can to ensure our students have access to the support they need to complete the semester successfully. Any Georgian student seeking financial support is encouraged to reach out to our Financial Aid department at [email protected].
source: media release, Georgian College
