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Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Section 1: Changes to the Alberta Student Aid Operational Policy & Procedure Manual ............................ 4

Eligibility for Student Aid .......................................................................................................................... 4

Student Contribution ............................................................................................................................ 4

Workers’ Compensation Benefits ......................................................................................................... 4

Income Threshold ................................................................................................................................. 5

Canada Student Loans for Part-Time Students and Persons with Permanent Disabilities – Eligibility Thresholds ............................................................................................................................................. 6

Monthly Living Allowances ................................................................................................................... 7

Full-Time Student Aid ................................................................................................................................ 7

Applying for Student Aid ....................................................................................................................... 7

Part-Time Student Aid ............................................................................................................................... 8

Part-time Loan Agreement Process ...................................................................................................... 8

Confirmation of Enrolment for Part-Time Canada Loans and Grants ................................................... 8

Repayment .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Canada Student Loans Interest-Free Period ......................................................................................... 9

Canada Student Loans Interest Rates ................................................................................................... 9

Eligibility for Canada Student Loan Rehabilitation ............................................................................... 9

Section 2: Other Changes to Student Aid ................................................................................................... 10

Scholarships ............................................................................................................................................ 10

Alexander Rutherford Scholarship - Application Availability .............................................................. 10

Confirmation of Registration .................................................................................................................. 10

Remit Tuition from Both Periods ........................................................................................................ 10

Tuition Remittance Buffer ................................................................................................................... 10

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Introduction

What’s New 2019-20 outlines changes to the Alberta Student Aid program, systems and policies for the upcoming loan year (August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020). This document is intended to assist administrators and staff at post-secondary institutions with identifying how major changes occurring in the 2019-20 loan year will affect students.

Unless otherwise indicated, all changes are effective for study dates beginning August 1, 2019 or later.

This document provides highlights and general information about upcoming changes. The locations of more detailed resources are referenced throughout the document.

Please refer to the Alberta Student Aid website at studentaid.alberta.ca to ensure you are getting up-to-date information. Information in this document is subject to change.

There are two sections to this guide:

1. Alberta Student Aid Operational Policy & Procedure Manual changes

• Overview of the changes to specific policies and procedures in the manual.

• Additional details on all topics included here can be found in the Operational Policy &Procedure Manual. For more information about our policies, visit:

o resources/student-aid-policy

2. Other Changes to Student Aid

• All other changes not related to the Alberta Student Aid Operational Policy & ProcedureManual.

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Section 1: Changes to the Alberta Student Aid Operational Policy & Procedure Manual

Eligibility for Student Aid

Student Contribution

The full-time application previously asked students if they are, or had been a Ward of the Crown, meaning they are or had been placed in government care. The question helped Student Aid determine which students ought to be exempt from the federal student contribution. The term ‘Ward of the Crown’ has been replaced with the term ‘Youth in Government Care’ on the full-time application and other resources, as it’s more appropriate language. ‘Youth in Government Care’ is consistent with language used by the Advancing Futures Bursary, a program administered by Alberta Children Services that delivers programming for this client group. For more information, refer to the 2019-20 Operational Policy & Procedure Manual:

• Student Aid Policy

For more information on Advancing Futures, refer to: • Advancing Futures Bursary

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ Compensation Benefits will no longer be used as a resource on a student’s financial need assessment. Students should therefore not report any payments from the Workers’ Compensation Board.

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Income Threshold

The Income Threshold column indicates the income threshold at which students will receive the maximum amount of grant funding. If the student’s (and family’s, if applicable) income is between the Max Grant and the Grant Cut-off amount, the student will receive a proportional amount of grant funding. If the income is higher than the Grant Cut-off, the student will not be eligible for any grant funding.

This chart is used to determine eligibility for:

• Canada Student Grant for Full-time Students (CSG-FT)• Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-FTDEP)• Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies (CSG-PT)• Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-PTDEP)

This is also used to determine the Federal Student Contribution and Federal Spouse/Partner Contribution.

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Canada Student Loans for Part-Time Students and Persons with Permanent Disabilities – Eligibility Thresholds

• Canada Student Loans for Part-Time Students • Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities

There are no changes to the income threshold charts used to determine eligibility for Alberta grant funding, including

• Alberta Low-Income Grant • Alberta Maintenance Grant • Alberta Part-Time Grant

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Monthly Living Allowances

For more information, refer to:

• Canada Student Grants for Low & Middle Family Income • Federal Student Contribution & Spouse/Partner Contribution

Full-Time Student Aid

Applying for Student Aid

The 2019-20 full-time application will be available online on June 10, 2019. Students must log in to register, apply, and check their application online at studentaid.alberta.ca.

Students should ensure that they are using the correct application for their program of study.

2019-20 paper applications for full-time studies will not be available on studentaid.alberta.ca.

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Students who are unable to apply online can apply by paper after completing a short survey. To access a printable application, students can visit:

• applications-and-forms

Part-Time Student Aid

Part-time Loan Agreement Process

Students receiving Part-Time Canada Student Loans or Grants will be required to log in, or create, a National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) account to complete their part-time federal loan agreement. This process will be similar to the current process students use to complete their federal Master Student Financial Assistance Agreements (MSFAAs).

• applying-for-funding/part-time-students• Operational Policy & Procedure Manual, Chapter 3: Part-Time Student Aid

Confirmation of Enrolment for Part-Time Canada Loans and Grants

If a student has been approved to receive any of the following types of funds for part-time studies, the educational institution will be required to provide a confirmation of enrolment using the Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (ECE) Portal:

• Part-Time Canada Student Loan (PT-CSL)• Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies (CSG-PT)• Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-PTDEP)• Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PD)• Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities

(CSG-PDSE)

An enrolment type (full-time or part-time) will be added to the grid view, and the search feature has been enhanced to include enrolment type as a search option.

For additional information, or to register for access to the ECE Portal, contact the National Student Loans Service Centre:

• Phone: 1-888-815-4514• Email: cie-ece@csnpe-nslsc.ca

If an educational institution is not registered, you will be sent a Confirmation of Remittance form.

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NOTE: This new process applies only to Canada grants and loans for part-time studies. The process for confirming the registration of students who are approved to receive the Alberta Part-Time Grant has not changed.

Repayment

NOTE: Changes in this section will not be in effect August 1, 2019

Canada Student Loans Interest-Free Period

Beginning November 1, 2019, Canada Student Loans will remain interest-free for six months after a student has graduated. This new interest-free period matches the existing Alberta interest-free period.

Canada Student Loans Interest Rates

The Canada Student Loan Program has announced lower fixed and floating interest rates effective November 1, 2019.

Eligibility for Canada Student Loan Rehabilitation

The rehabilitation program for Canada Student Loans allows students to remove defaulted loans from collections with the Canada Revenue Agency and resume making affordable payments on their debts. Currently, students need to repay all interest owed and make two monthly payments.

As of January 1, 2020, interest on defaulted Canada Student Loans will be capitalized (added to the loan balance). Students will still need to make two monthly payments and contact the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) to request rehabilitation of their Canada Student Loans.

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Section 2: Other Changes to Student Aid

Scholarships

Alexander Rutherford Scholarship - Application Availability

The 2019-20 Alexander Rutherford for High School Achievement Scholarship application will be available online in early August. In the past, students began submitting applications for this scholarship in June, creating backlogs of applications that could not be assessed until Alberta high school marks became available in August.

Confirmation of Registration

Remit Tuition from Both Periods

An enhancement to the Confirmation of Registration (CoR) system will now allow educational institutions to remit tuition from both semesters as the time of the initial confirmation of registration.

Tuition Remittance Buffer

In 2006, a $1,000 tuition remittance buffer was introduced with the implementation of the Students Finance System (SFS). The buffer was a means to resolving any inaccuracies between the tuition listed in the application system and the actual amount of tuition required for the program.

In 2012, Student Aid introduced the Provider and Program Registry System (PAPRS) and data inaccuracies became rare. The buffer remained however so that it could be used in the event of program changes or cases where the student reported the incorrect tuition amounts on their application.

In 2015, Alberta Student Aid implemented a Request for Review process which made it easier for students to request additional funds to address any discrepancies in the costs reported on their initial application.

By allowing the tuition buffer, students often face challenges trying to account for their loan dollars. Additionally, the buffer is inconsistent with the terms of the Private Career College’s student contract. Under the Ministry’s governance model, schools are not permitted to take additional funds for tuition in excess of the tuition fee listed in PAPRS.

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As of August 1, 2019, the $1,000 tuition remittance buffer will be removed and educational institutions will now be able to remit an amount consistent with the tuition amounts in PAPRS. This will benefit educational institutions by making tuition refunds easier to calculate and document.

Students will also benefit from this change by directly receiving more money they can use for living or other education costs. This is particularly beneficial to students who have high program costs, and could result in fewer students needing to move up funding or submit a Request for Review. This should also give students a better opportunity to budget and plan their resources.