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OSAP Initiatives: Where We’ve Come From – Where We’re Going New Benefits and Service Improvements

OSAP Initiatives: Where We’ve Come From – Where We’re Going New Benefits and Service Improvements. Student Financial Assistance Branch Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Presentation to the College Student Alliance February Conference February 15, 2013. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW.

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OSAP Initiatives: Where We’ve Come From – Where We’re Going New Benefits and Service Improvements

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  1. OSAP Initiatives:Where We’ve Come From – Where We’re Going New Benefits and Service Improvements Student Financial Assistance Branch Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Presentation to the College Student Alliance February Conference February 15, 2013

  2. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW • New OSAP Programs and Enhancements • OSAP Express – Service Improvements • Future Initiatives

  3. New OSAP Programs and Enhancements • 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant • Core OSAP – Improved Benefits • Repayment Assistance Plan • Initiatives to Support Youth Leaving Care • Extended grace period for borrowers working with not-for-profit organizations

  4. 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant • The 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant application was launched on January 5, 2012, and the Ministry began issuing grants at the end of January 2012. • In 2011-12, over 207,000 college and university students saw their tuition costs reduced as a result; these numbers have increased so far in 2012-13. • The program has indexed the grant value to reflect tuition increases, which means that in 2012-13 students in a degree program save $1,680 on tuition, while students in diploma or certificate programs save $770. • Students can apply for the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant on its own, or may be considered for the grant through their OSAP Application for Full-Time Studies.

  5. 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant • RECENT ENHANCEMENTS – • HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW: Recognizing that some students may be prevented from attending full-time studies in the four years immediately after high school due to grounds that fall under the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ministry has extended accommodations on the grounds of disability, a medical condition, or the requirement to care for a dependent child, spouse, or parent. • Direct deposit of grants • UPCOMING IDEAS – • Faster payment • Better ways to deal with non-traditional income verification (e.g., foreign income) • Direct reduction of tuition bills

  6. Core OSAP – Improved Benefits • Raised and indexed the study period income exemption from $50/week to $100/week, now at $109/week • Increased the Ontario weekly assistance limit from $140/week to $150/week • Indexed book, supply, and equipment allowances to inflation • Introduced interest free 6-month grace period • Reduced spousal income contributions by 10% • Increased vehicle exemption levels for married and sole support parents • Introduced a new $500 Ontario Part-Time Grant

  7. Repayment Assistance Plan • In 2010-11, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) was implemented with the federal government to provide borrowers with more help repaying their student loans. • Qualified applicants are eligible for reduced student loan payments or, in many cases no payments. • Participants in the Repayment Assistance Plan are not required to pay more than 20 per cent of their family income towards their loans. After 15 years (10 years for borrowers with disabilities), any remaining student loan debt is forgiven. • Default rates for college students are at the lowest point on record (10.5%). • Over 100,000 Ontario borrowers benefitted from RAP in 2011-12. • RECENT ENHANCEMENTS – • Fully on-line applications for RAP • Simpler, less onerous proof of income process

  8. Initiatives to Support Youth Leaving Care In 2008, the Ministry introduced several initiatives to reduce the barriers to participation in postsecondary studies, and improve the educational outcomes of Crown wards leaving the care of Children’s Aid Societies. Initiatives included the Ontario Access Grant for Crown Wards (OAG-CW): Covered up to 50% of tuition to a maximum of $3,000 for OSAP recipients who currently are or were Crown wards and are enrolled in their first degree, diploma or certificate program; Was available for the length of the student’s first program to a maximum of four years; Students enrolled in a one year program received a grant to cover up to 100% of their tuition to a maximum of $3,000. RECENT ENHANCEMENTS – New $500/month grant for youth aged 21-25 leaving care Extended OAG-CW eligibility to other youth who are leaving the care of a Children’s Aid Society and receiving an Extended Care and Maintenance (ECM) allowance (e.g., society wards, customary care agreements); Provided the OAG-CW for four years, regardless of whether it is the student’s first program; Exempted ECM as a resource in the OSAP need assessment; Creation of partnership for “Free Tuition for Crown Wards” with 11 institutions participating in round 1

  9. Extended Grace Period for Not-for-Profits • Ontario students who contribute to the not-for-profit sector now have one year after graduation before they are required to make any payments on their OSAP loans as opposed to the standard 6-month grace period. • The not-for-profit sector in Ontario is made up of more than 46,000 organizations and employs approximately 15% of Ontario’s total workforce. • To be eligible for this new benefit, graduates must work in Ontario in a paid or voluntary position for at least 30 hours per week at not-for-profits that are: • Charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency; • Incorporated with Ontario, Canada, or another province/territory; or • Administering the registered charity or foundation of a school, hospital, or government. • Students who qualify are exempt from making any payments on their Canada and Ontario student loans for one year, have their monthly interest paid for by the Ontario government, and remain eligible to apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan.

  10. SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS • OSAP Express • Life After High School Program • Technical Tuition Consultations

  11. OSAP Express Transforming the Student Experience with OSAP – “OSAP Express” the new Service Delivery Vision

  12. OSAP Express • The OSAP Service Delivery Vision is the story of a 5-year investment strategy to improve service to Ontario students through regulatory streamlining, IT modernization and technological solutions. • OSAP Express vastly improves and simplifies student access to financial assistance, enhance customer service, and reduce administrative requirements for Colleges and Universities. • STUDENT PERSPECTIVE: • Line up at their College/University multiple times/year to submit docs and receive funds • Line up at the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) kiosks/post offices to finalize submission of documents • Wait (sometimes weeks) for processing, confirmations, and receipt of funds • Submit tons of documentation on paper • Rely on mail delivery for essential documents • Rely on their Colleges/Universities to modify their applications or update their information (incomes, addresses, etc.)

  13. OSAP Express • The Project was delivered in two phases: 1) the Student Facing Application; 2) Modernizing OSAP (MOSAP). The Student Facing Application (Complete) – Accomplishments: • Redesigned adaptive and interactive OSAP online application • Redesigned OSAP website and information portal for financial aid offices • New OSAP mobile web site for smartphones for students (accessed over 100,000 times) • Enhanced student access by simplifying credit check rules • New standards for the Student Access Guarantee, which provides $180M/year in aid to over 80,000 Ontario students

  14. OSAP Express MOSAP – OSAP Express (Underway) – Accomplishments: • Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) • Over 350,00 have been submitted • Automated Student Authentication • System – to – System Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment • Fully automated at majority of Ontario Schools • Direct Deposit of Funds to all students • The biggest change is that students no longer have to line up at the school’s Financial Aid Office to get OSAP loan documents before each term, and then submit it to the (NSLSC). • Due to these new processes, 93% of students got their September disbursement of OSAP funds up to a week earlier than last year. January disbursements were released prior to the start of the term – first time ever.

  15. OSAP Express – Lining up at Brock………..

  16. Life After High School Program • Life After High School is a pilot project developed by our Ministry and the Ministry of Education that explores ways to increase the rate of transition to postsecondary education in Ontario by removing some barriers to participation. • The project provides students in select participating high schools with a program that: 1) instructs student on labour market opportunities of PSE; 2) guides students through applying for PSE (OCAS/OUAC) and pays application; 3) guides students through the OSAP application process. • In 2011-12, the program was piloted in 87 high schools with low rates of transition to postsecondary education. Preliminary results: • The number of college applications from program schools rose 54 per cent over 2011 numbers. • The number of university applications from program schools rose 17 per cent over 2011 numbers. • Overall, there appears to have been a 35% increase in combined university and college applications at these historically low-PSE transition schools due to the Life After High School program.

  17. Technical Tuition Consultations • In March 2012, the Ministry announced a moratorium on increases to and the introduction of new deferral fees, as well on the implementation of new flat fee tuition structures. • Over the summer months, the Ministry established a Working Group with representatives from colleges, universities, and student groups, to discuss these and other issues related to a multi-year tuition policy. • Through the Working Group, the Ministry engaged with the sector on: • The timing of tuition payments and fees related to late or instalment payments; • The timing and process for billing tuition costs to eligible students ‘net’ of non-repayable grants; • Institutional practices related to flat or program tuition fee structures; and • Institutional practices and Ministry policies related to ancillary fees. • The Ministry is developing proposals to move forward on each of these issues. • As part of the plan to move forward, the Ministry proposes to: • Implement tuition payment processes that do not penalize students; • Reduce students’ up-front tuition costs; • Create a program fee structure that is reasonable and fair for students; and • Provide clear and transparent ancillary fee policies.

  18. FUTURE INITIATIVES • Simplification of the OSAP application/need assessment • A more generous over-awards policy • Allowing students the option of receiving only grants • Rehabilitation for students who have defaulted • Moving bank-held loans to the NSLSC • Harmonized OSAP rules for co-op work terms

  19. Questions?Feedback?

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