2005 News Releases
| July 18, 2005 |
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Real-time, post-secondary student loan information only a click away
Students can now see immediate results of their funding applications
Edmonton... Albertans applying online for student loans, grants and bursaries now have access to a greater range of faster, more flexible and user-friendly electronic services through a new student application system, which is the first of its kind in Canada.
The new system allows post-secondary students to apply online for financial assistance, have their application processed instantaneously, and see immediately how much money they will receive. Full-time students attending private vocational institutions can now also use this convenient new system.
"Government has committed to making post-secondary education in Alberta more accessible, so that all motivated Albertans can achieve their full potential," said Advanced Education and Technology Minister Dave Hancock, who unveiled the new system in Edmonton. "These new technological enhancements to the online application system make it easier for students to get the funding information they need, when they need it. It's a great improvement to the system."
The system will also provide post-secondary institutions with the ability to electronically notify the Students Finance System of student registration. This will help reduce line-ups, as the institutions will no longer have to sign students' federal or provincial student loan certificates.
"As we move ahead with the review of Alberta's post-secondary system, these are exactly the kinds of innovations we want to pursue," said Hancock. "The development team, which includes department staff and EDS Canada, deserves a lot of credit for creating this system for the benefit of students."
To ensure the privacy of student information, controls have been built into the Students Finance System to make sure student information is secure and confidential. A detailed Privacy Impact Assessment describing these controls has been submitted to Alberta's Privacy Commissioner.
Over the next few months, more than $400 million in federal and provincial loans and grants will be processed through the system for approximately 45,000 full-time post-secondary students. In a single day, between 2,000 and 3,000 students will be assessed; each with different financial needs and unique circumstances. In 2005-06, total provincial and federal assistance for Alberta students is projected to be about $483 million.
To access the system, students can visit alis.alberta.ca/studentsfinance/main.asp.
Backgrounder
Student financial assistance e-application system
The new system took approximately four years to put in place, from vision to implementation. The project cost approximately $11 million, resulting in a greater range of faster, more flexible and user-friendly electronic services through a new student application system, which is the first of its kind in Canada. Further enhancements will be made to the system in the coming year.
To access the system, all students will be required to input an Alberta Student Number, a Social Insurance Number and some standard personal information. Additional input requirements differ for first time students and returning students.
For more information on access and requirements, visit alis.alberta.ca/studentsfinance/eap/main.asp, or call 427-3722 (Edmonton) or 1-800-222-6485 (toll free in Canada).
Planning for post-secondary initiatives
The Alberta government - as part of its efforts to raise awareness about the importance of higher education - has developed several tools for students and parents to use in planning and saving for post-secondary studies. Examples of these tools include the Learning Clicks CD-ROM and the Planning for Post-secondary Guides for students and parents.
Learning Clicks
The Learning Clicks CD-ROM is an interactive and dynamic multimedia tool designed to inform Grade 9-12 students about the long-term benefits of post-secondary education, and to provide students with the information they need to plan for their futures.
Over the past year, a group of Learning Clicks youth ambassadors delivered 800 presentations to students across Alberta, and distributed more than 22,000 CD-ROMs. During these visits, the ambassadors demonstrated the learning tool, shared their own post-secondary experiences, answered questions about how to plan for post-secondary studies, and directed students to the appropriate planning resources. The ambassador program is being expanded for 2005-06.
A survey indicated that 90 per cent of students and 99 per cent of the teachers found the tool useful. Students who took part in the presentations were provided with a CD-ROM to take home to help them plan for their future. To experience Learning Clicks, please visit alis.alberta.ca/learningclicks/.
Planning for Post-secondary Guides
Government has developed a series of Planning for Post-secondary Guides to help students identify their skills, talents, and interests and to explore potential career choices.
The guides assist students through the many stages of learning and get them and their parents thinking about planning and saving for post-secondary education.
There are five guides: one each for students in Grade 9 and Grade 12, and for parents with children in Grade 6, Grade 9 and Grade 12.
The guides have been well received throughout the province. Nearly 42,000 guides have been distributed and more than 35,000 guides have been downloaded through alis.alberta.ca.
